Why do we need to raise awareness about colon cancer?
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Why? Colon cancer typically has no symptoms until it has already progressed to later stages – making it much more difficult to treat. The good news is that a routine colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50 could help save thousands of lives in this country every year by finding and removing polyps before they have a chance to turn into cancer, or detecting colon cancer in its early stages when treatment is most effective.
Facts*:
- Approximately 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer every year
- Colon cancer often has no symptoms until it’s at an advanced stage
- You can reduce your risk through regular screenings
- Beginning at age 50 (or earlier if you have a family history), everyone should talk to a doctor about getting a screening test for colon cancer
*These statistics were compiled from the American Cancer Society’s Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2014-2016. Read more statistics.