Get The Facts and Get Screened!
NEW CITY, NY, – During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert inform residents that the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends starting colorectal cancer screening at age 45 for people at average risk of colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum. It usually starts from polyps (small growths) on the lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps and colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms, especially at first. It can take many years for a polyp to develop into colorectal cancer.
Screening is the process of looking for cancer or pre-cancer in people who don’t have any symptoms of the disease. Screening can be done either with a test that looks for signs of cancer in a person’s stool or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum, such as a colonoscopy.
Regular colorectal cancer screening tests can help prevent cancer by finding and removing polyps before they turn into cancer and can help find cancer early. When colorectal cancer is found early, it can be more easily and successfully treated.
“Regular screening is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early when treatment works best. Talk to your healthcare provider about which colorectal screening tests might be good options for you; also, talk to your insurance provider about your coverage. No matter which test you choose, the most important thing for you to do is to get screened,” said Dr. Ruppert.
Certain risk factors make some people more likely to develop colorectal cancer, and they may need to get tested earlier than age 45 or more often than others. One of these risk factors is a family history of colon cancer or pre-cancerous polyps, especially in parents, brothers and sisters, or children. Family history of other colon problems and your own personal history can also increase risk. For example, you are more likely to get colon cancer if you have had pre-cancerous colon polyps in the past. Having other conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, or type 2 diabetes, can also increase your risk of colon cancer. Many lifestyle-related factors have been linked to colorectal cancer risks, such as being overweight or obese, not being physically active, smoking, using alcohol (more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women), and certain diets that are high in red meats (such as beef, pork, lamb, or liver) and processed meats. It is important to talk to your doctor about your colorectal cancer risk, which screening tests are right for you, and when you should get them.
The Cancer Services Program of the Hudson Valley Region offers FREE colorectal cancer screening tests and follow-up services if you are uninsured (or under-insured) and meet eligibility requirements. For more information, call (855) 277- 4482 or visit www.health.ny.gov/
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