colon cancer awareness Since colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the third most common cancer, it is important to discuss your risk factors with your doctor. March is National Colon Cancer Awareness month. Read on to learn more, and thanks for visiting us at Advocare of South Florida.

Colon Cancer Screening: No Ifs, Ands or Butts About It

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. This month highlights a great opportunity to talk to your physician about colon cancer screening. While this is something that comes up on a daily basis for me in my gastroenterology practice at Montefiore in the Bronx, New York, patients may not always be thinking about colon cancer and what they need to know in order to hopefully decrease the incidence and prevalence of this disease.

Here are several important questions and answers that are important to discuss with your physician in regards to colon cancer and your risk.

Who gets colon cancer?

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the third most common cancer in men and women. It occurs most often in people ages 50 and older, and the risk for cancer increases with age. Both men and women can get colon cancer at the same rate. Some may be at higher risk for the disease if they have a close relative with colon cancer, if they have a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or if they have a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome. Finally, there is some research to suggest there are ethnic differences in colon cancer, as African-Americans have a higher incidence rate with lower survival rates. If you have any concerns about your risk, discuss colon cancer screening with your physician.

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