Did you know that colorectal cancer is one of the most detectable and curable cancers? So why is it that this cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths?
The lack of knowledge and routine screenings make colorectal cancer so deadly. Which is why March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. This is the time to the word out about how important it is to get screened. Unless you are at high risk or have family history, people 50 years or older should be getting screened for colon cancer. If detected early enough, these screenings could save your life. In fact, 90% of all colon cancer cases can be prevented with recommended screenings.
A polyp is usually the first sign of colon cancer. Those polyps should not be there and overtime can turn into cancer. By getting routine screenings such as a colonoscopy, polyps can be found and removed before turning into cancer. Professionals in this field believe that a widespread adoption of these screening practices could save as many as 30,000 lives a year.
Along with routine screenings, the American Cancer Society also suggest eating healthy and living an active lifestyle can prevent colorectal cancer. Here are their suggestions:
-Increase physical activity
-Limit red and processed meats
-Get recommended levels of vitamin D and calcium
-Eat more fruits and vegetables
-Avoid obesity and weight gain
-Avoid excess alcohol