As a reminder to all, this link from the American Cancer Society reviews the guidelines on screening and surveillance for the early detection of polyps and colorectal cancer.
There are three risk catagories: average, increased, and high. Check out the table at the bottom of the link to see what risk category you fall in.
50,000 people die from colon cancer each year – one every 9.3 minutes. Prevention is vital to reducing this grim statistic.
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- Colon cancer screening guidelines
- New colon cancer screening modalities
- When women should have their first Pap smear; the new cervical cancer screening guidelines
- Tony Snow’s colon cancer has spread to his liver
- How accurate is a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer?
- Are whites more likely to be screened for colon cancer?
- A missed colon cancer after four doctor visits
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{ 2 comments }
Craig,
Thanks for posting the cancer screening guidelines! As you know, March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I’m with the American Cancer Society and I cannot stress how important it is that all people age 50 and over get tested for colon cancer. There are many reasons why people choose not to get tested, but all of them pale in comparison to actually dealing with this preventable disease. We’ve put together some ads that attempt to lighten a topic that can be weighty in the hopes that we’ll get people talking about the disease, and more importantly–tested for it: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/ped_5.asp
I too am with the American Cancer Society and I want to share some interesting facts with you about getting screened for colon cancer.
Have you heard about the new American Cancer Society survey that found that more Americans aged 50 and older are more likely to know the name of a judge on “American Idol” than know they are at risk for colon cancer? The poll also revealed that Americans are more uncomfortable talking about colon cancer than either politics or religion.
As Simon Cowell might say, “These results are abysmal.” The fact that two out of three adults don’t know they need to be tested should serve as a wake-up call about how much more needs to be done to beat this preventable cancer. We are losing too many lives from lack of information, fear and shame.
What can you do about it? You can help the American Cancer Society alert family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues and others whom you know, 50 and over, about the need to get screened for colon cancer.
There are many ways to reach out, but one very simple, fun and positive way is through http://www.cancer.org/ColonFab50 Check it out. You’ll discover fabulous 50+year-olds from NY and NJ who have made a commitment to get screened, talk about their colons, blast e-mails to 50 friends and keep web logs about their colonoscopy experiences and fears.
At the site, you and others can enter our Fabulous at 50 contest for a chance to win great prizes. You also can qualify to receive our latest, blue “Fear Nothing” wrist band.
Visit http://www.cancer.org/ColonFab50 today. Help us make March the new October. In the fall, women are reminded to get a mammogram. In the spring, men and women, aged 50 and over, should know to get their colon checked.
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