ACS stresses importance of screenings for colon cancer

March is colon cancer awareness month and the American Cancer Society (ACS) reminds individuals 50 years of age and older, to have regular colorectal cancer screenings. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.

“If there is a good thing about colon cancer, it is that it’s a slow process. In most cases, it can take 10 to 15 years for a polyp to turn into colon cancer,” said Jen Kronvall, community relationship manager for ACS in Spokane. “If that polyp is found early, it can be removed, tested and potentially keep you from having to go through treatment later on.”

The most recent estimates by ACS show that 103,170 new cases of colon cancer and 40,290 new cases of rectal cases can be expected this year. Colorectal cancer is more common in men than women, but generally, one in 20 people develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women separately, and combined, it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It is estimated that about 49,380 colorectal cancer deaths occurred in 2011.

For more than 20 years, the number of deaths from colorectal cancer has been dropping significantly. While there are a variety of reasons for this, one main reason is that regular screenings for colorectal cancer leads to the discovery of polyps before they become cancerous.

Regular screenings also help colorectal cancer to be diagnosed earlier, when the disease is easier to cure. In addition to that, there have been great advances in treatment for colorectal cancer over the last several years, allowing more than one million people to be survivors of colorectal cancer in the United States.

The combination of screening and testing is the most powerful weapon an individual has for preventing or curing colorectal cancer. Screening is simply the process of looking for cancer in people who do not have symptoms of the disease.

Regular screenings can lead to the discovery of a polyp, but because they generally take over 10 years to develop into cancer, that polyp can be removed before it can become cancerous. Even those polyps that have cancer, if found early, are easily curable. It is those individuals who do not have regular screenings after the age of 50 that are at the highest risk for colorectal cancer.

There are several tests that doctors use to screen people with an average risk of colorectal cancer. Patients should ask their doctor about which tests are available and which option is right for that specific patient.

Those individuals who do not have a family history of colorectal cancer should begin regular screenings at the age of 50.

Those individuals who do have a family history of colorectal cancer should talk with their doctor to determine the appropriate time to begin screenings.

“Those people with a family history generally start screenings in their twenties, because of the hereditary aspect. And I know the process isn’t fun,” joked Kronvall. “But regular screenings can save your life.”

For more information about colorectal cancer or about regular screenings, contact ACS at 1-800-ACS-2345 or at http://cancer.org.

If interested in participating in the Relay For Life of Ritzville which helps raise money to assist with cancer research, contact Kronvall at 509-242-8303 or by e-mail at [email protected].