Are you aware?

October was Breast Cancer Awareness month, and soon after followed February marking the American Heart Awareness month, and this month, the month of March, is the National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Being 1^st day of March and in less popular awareness month, it still draws an awareness to a less-known, yet an important month.
Blount Memorial gastroenterologist Dr. William Lyles, explains “Colon cancer affects both men and women from all ethnicities. However, it’s also one of the most-preventable types of cancer we treat. More than just preventable, it’s also curable when detected at an early stage.”

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March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

The risk of colon cancer increases with age, particularly for those over 50 years of age, and over 45 years of age for African-Americans. The best and the most important way to prevent colon cancer is to get yourself screened at this age, the researchers believe.
“That really is the ideal age for average-risk individuals to begin screening, but if you are African American or have a family history of colon cancer, you may need to begin screening even younger than 50,” the researchers add.
Most colon cancers begin as benign polyps, which gives researchers a change to detect this disease at an early stage, and also cure it. By screening these polyps early, colon cancer can be eliminate early.
There are several different kinds of screening tests for colon cancer, which can include colonoscopy, of course, as well as flexible sigmoidoscopy and testing stools for hidden blood as extensively described by Dr. Lyles. Newer tests exist and continue to be developed. Many insurance companies also actually cover the cost of these screenings.

Read more at http://americanlivewire.com/2015-03-02-march-national-colorectal-cancer-awareness-month/