Are you 45+? Learn Why Colorectal Cancer Screening is Important to Do Now

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Fort HealthCare is encouraging community members to learn more about colorectal cancer prevention and screening. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and most preventable cancers. Getting screened early can help detect issues before they become serious and may even prevent cancer from developing.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S., affecting both men and women. Each year, more than 150,000 people are diagnosed, and tens of thousands die from it. Regular screening can prevent colorectal cancer.  Colorectal cancer often develops silently. That’s why experts recommend starting screenings at age 45.

A colonoscopy is considered the “gold standard” for detecting and preventing colorectal cancer. If a colonoscopy isn’t possible, other screening options, such as stool-based tests, are available. The main difference is what each test can detect. Stool-based tests can usually identify cancer if it has already developed, including advanced polyps. A colonoscopy can find even the smallest and remove them, stopping them before cancer starts.

“Many people avoid colonoscopies because they worry about the preparation,” says Dr. Thomas Diehl, General and Laparoscopic Surgeon at Fort HealthCare Surgical Associates. “The prep has changed a lot and isn’t as intense as it used to be,”

Instead of drinking a gallon of solution, most patients today mix a smaller amount of MiraLax with a few bottles of Gatorade over a few hours making it simple and effective.

The most important step is making sure you get screened. If you’re 45 or older, or have questions about colorectal cancer screening, talk with your healthcare provider about the option that’s right for you.

To schedule a colonoscopy.  call Fort HealthCare Surgical Associates at (920) 563-7900.