March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Q. What is Colorectal cancer?

A. Colorectal cancer  develops from polyps, growths on the lining of the colon and rectum.  Approximately 150,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the United States each year. 

Q. Are some people more at risk than others?

A.  The risk for colorectal cancer increases as we age.  It is most often found in men and women 50 years of age and older.  Colorectal cancer affects men and women equally.  Some people, such as those with a personal or family history of colorectal polyps, or a personal or family history of inflammatory bowel disease – ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease, are at greater risk.

Q. What preventative steps can I take?

A. It is recommended that men and women age 50 begin regular screening tests.  Screening is intended to detect pre-cancerous polyps so they can be removed, and to find colorectal cancer early when it is mostly easily treated.  Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States; however, it is nearly 90 percent preventable.

Several screening options can be used to detect polyps or colorectal cancer.  A colonoscopy is considered the gold standard of treatments for screening.  Other tests include a fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and a double contrast barium enema.  Talk to a health care professional to determine which screening is best for you and when you should begin screening.

Regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight may also reduce your risk for colorectal cancer.

 Q. Who do I contact to get a screening?

A.  A free fecal occult blood test can be obtained by calling The Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital at (765) 741-2938.  You may call (765) 281-2176 or 1-877-421-5200 to schedule a screening colonoscopy, and no referral is necessary for this service.   

Q. Are there any other local resources available to me?

If you would like to learn more about colorectal cancer, please call The Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital at (765) 741-2938 or you can visit our website at www.thecancercenteratbmh.org.

Becky Butts is the Coordinator of Community Education for The Cancer Center at Ball Memorial Hospital. For more information about colorectal cancer, send an email to info@chsmail.org or log on to accesschs.org.

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Cardinal Health System
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Muncie, IN 47303
(765) 747-3111