Although colorectal cancer is often preventable and many are aware of the disease, most people still fail to get screened.
Colorectal cancer remains the fourth most common cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 148,800 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2008 and 49,960 died because of it.
That's why every March there's a concerted effort to raise awareness of this disease and to encourage people to get screened.
New guidelines for screening
A multidisciplinary panel of M. D. Anderson experts in medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, cancer prevention, imaging and other areas have developed new risk categories and related guidelines for colorectal cancer.
For men and women at average risk who are 50 years and older, M. D. Anderson recommends a colonoscopy every 10 years (preferred screening), and either a virtual colonoscopy every five years or a yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT).
For men and women at increased or high risk, the type and frequency of exams, including colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy, depend on the following factors:
• Personal history of precancerous (adenomatous) polyps
• Personal history of colorectal cancer
• Family history of colorectal cancer or precancerous (adenomatous) polyps
• Genetic diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyps
• Genetic history of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, or clinical history suggesting such
• Inflammatory bowl disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease)
If you fit these guidelines, celebrate March with a check-up and chat with your primary physician about getting screened for colon cancer.
Related stories:
Metastatic Colon Cancer Survival Jumps Dramatically Almost a Third of Patients May Live Five Years
Colorectal Cancer Survivors' Stories Become More Common
M. D. Anderson resources:
Colonoscopy versus Virtual Colonoscopy (podcast)
Colorectal Cancer Treatment and Screening (podcast)
Additional resources:
Colon and Rectal Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
Colon and Rectum Cancer (American Cancer Society)
National Health Observances Toolkit (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
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