Did you know March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month? Many of us don’t think about colorectal cancer, our chances of getting the disease or the reasons to check for it, until this awareness month remind us.
This March, consider these three reasons for why you should be proactive with your health and get screened for colorectal cancer:
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world and is second only behind lung cancer in cancer deaths in the U.S. The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 152,000 people in the U.S. received a diagnosis of colon or rectal cancer in 2024, and approximately 53,010 died from the disease.
Bringing this closer to home, Arizona ranks 44 out of 50 states when it comes to adults receiving colorectal cancer screenings. Even more concerning is the approximately 2,800 new cases of this type of cancer in our state every year.
Beyond that, colorectal cancer has one of the second-highest treatment costs, and the average cost per patient increases significantly as the cancer progresses to later stages. Catching colorectal cancer early is essential because it can be easier to treat, minimize advanced colorectal cancer and can often lead to complete remission.
To help catch it early, it’s important to be familiar with the symptoms that could indicate the presence of colorectal cancer. The most common symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
In the U.S., the incidence rate of colorectal cancer in people ages 20 to 49 has nearly doubled since the early 1990s. Even advanced colorectal cancer rates have increased annually by about 3% in people younger than 50, according to the American Cancer Society. Due to the increased number of young adults being diagnosed, ACS now recommends that people start regular screenings at age 45.
On the flip side, colorectal cancer occurrences have sharply declined in those over the age of 65. Though colorectal cancer in the elderly is still a cause for concern, it is safe to say that following the recommended screening guidelines plays a significant role in diagnosis and treatment.
Although doctors can’t pinpoint what exactly is causing the jump in colorectal cancer among young adults, they believe an unhealthy diet, gut bacteria and inflammation could play a role. In older adults, doctors do know that obesity, physical inactivity and smoking raise the risk of colorectal cancer.
It’s true that many of us avoid getting regular screenings for colorectal cancer because the process of getting a colonoscopy feels like a headache, from the rigorous prep to fear of the procedure.
Today, there are many different colon cancer screening options available. For patients facing an average risk for colon cancer, non-invasive screening options may be a good alternative.
Sonora Quest and others offer at-home collection kits that use antibodies to detect blood, which can be an indicator of polyps or colorectal cancer. Completed in the comfort of your home, the tests use a brush that is dipped in the toilet water surrounding the stool. Once the sample from the water is collected, it’s brushed onto a card, placed into the kit and mailed to the lab for evaluation.
If abnormal findings are detected in the stool, further screening, such as a colonoscopy, is recommended to confirm the presence of colorectal cancer or polyps. The test is available without insurance or a doctor’s order.
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or a genetic conditions like Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis or Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, you might benefit from genetic counseling or genetic testing to assess your risk and identify the most appropriate screening options.
Colorectal cancer awareness is incredibly important because many cases are preventable. In fact, about 70% of CRC deaths can be prevented with just a simple screening. Whether through an at-home test or a traditional colonoscopy, taking this step can help catch colorectal cancer early — when it’s most treatable.
This March, use Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month as a reminder to schedule your screening and encourage your loved ones to do the same. It could make all the difference.
Editor’s note: Stacy White, PhD is scientific medical director at Sonora Quest Laboratories, an Arizona-based joint venture between Banner Health and Quest Diagnostics. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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