By Pat Carragher - March 27, 2023
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This disease starts in the colon or the rectum and can also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 107,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer while another 46,000 will be diagnosed with rectal cancer. It’s the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States, excluding skin cancer.
Dr. Seth Felder, a colorectal surgeon in the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at Moffitt Cancer Center, broke down the three key takeaways to understanding the disease:
1. Screening
The ACS recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. A screening colonoscopy is considered the gold standard when testing for the disease.
Did you know that colorectal cancer screenings should begin at age 45 for individuals of average risk? Moffitt's Dr. Felder shares 3 things to know about when to get screened for colorectal cancer. #ColonCancerAwarenessMonth pic.twitter.com/JRcMGyl6zK
— Moffitt Cancer Center (@MoffittNews) March 16, 2023
2. Family & Personal History
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be screened earlier depending on the age of your family member at the time of their diagnosis.
For #ColonCancerAwarenessMonth, Dr. Felder is sharing 3 things to know about when to get screened for colorectal cancer. Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/6vr5GXenfe pic.twitter.com/MfyHkkSFIi
— Moffitt Cancer Center (@MoffittNews) March 25, 2023
3. Symptoms
Persistent rectal bleeding, change in bowel function, unexplained abdominal pain or weight loss are the biggest warning signs to be on the lookout for.
Do you know the symptoms of colorectal cancer? Dr. Felder is sharing 3 things you should know about when to get a colorectal cancer screening. #ColonCancerAwarenessMonth pic.twitter.com/47kdkaztbg
— Moffitt Cancer Center (@MoffittNews) March 27, 2023
