March is colon cancer awareness month. In bringing awareness to Colon Cancer, we’d like you to know that everyone is at risk. Although the risk is higher for men and women over 50 years old and the risk increases with age, you don’t have to be 50 or older to get the disease.

Other risks include:

-Colon or rectum polyps

-Having an inflammatory bowel disease such as crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

-Having previous history of colon cancer

You have a family history of:

– Colon cancer
– Colon or rectal polyps
– Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
– Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer
– Other cancers

-You have symptoms

Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:

-Rectal bleeding
-Blood in the stool or in the toilet after
having a bowel movement
-A change in your bowel habits, including
diarrhea or constipation
-Cramping or pain in the lower stomach
-Losing weight and you do not know why
-Anemia (low blood count)

What can you do? Take action! Get colorectal screening. According to The Center for Disease Control (CDC), of all the cancers that effect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States.

Screening can often prevent colon cancer if precancerous polyps are detected. These can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening also helps detect colon cancer in early stages when treatment options can be most effective.

Talk to your doctor about you and your loved one’s risks and what screening options are available for you.  We want you to be healthy and as always, we are caring for your life.

Contact us if we can be of assistance to you.

Jill Jordan, Marketing and Public Relations Executive

JJordan@MFHOC.com

www.MIDFLORIDACANCERCENTERS.COM