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Colon Cancer Kills
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of death among all cancer related deaths of men and women in the United States. One in 20 will be diagnosed with colon cancer in their lifetime. There are 150,000 new diagnoses of colon cancer and 50,000 deaths per year in the US. Remember that colon cancer is one of the most treatable, and indeed preventable cancers, if detected early. Colon and rectal cancers have a 95% survivability rate with early detection.
Getting Tested is Key
60 percent of all colon cancer related deaths can be prevented with regular screening, but two of every three people of screening age are not up-to-date with colon cancer screening. Colon Cancer screening is recommended beginning at age 45-50 in average risk persons, and 10 years earlier if you have a family history. Research shows an alarming number of younger persons being diagnosed with CRC, and we are working hard to understand why.
You Have Options
Screening guidelines and recommendations from every major authoritative body recommend colon cancer screening, and new guidelines and recommendations give no preference to colonoscopy over fecal immunochemical tests. After taking a fecal immunochemical test, you are considered screened for colon cancer. Positive results should be communicated to your doctor immediately, and with a negative result, your next step is to re-test in a calendar year.