March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Happy March, everyone. Here at Abraham Family Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing our patients and their families with knowledge to help them achieve and maintain long term health and wellness. That’s why whenever we reach an important health awareness event on the calendar, we like to take a little time to discuss what patients should know about the respective health topic or concern in question. 

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the US. Colorectal cancer refers to any cancer that starts in the rectum or colon. Although there are different forms of this disease, adenocarcinomas make up 96% of all colon cancer cases according to the American Cancer Society. Although the causes of colorectal cancer are still being studied, many cases result from abnormal growths in the colon or hereditary gene mutations.

To help reinforce the importance of awareness, our healthcare providers wanted to provide some statistics about the prevalence of colorectal cancer for adults in the US:

• Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths among adults in the US, behind only lung cancer.
• Experts estimate that 147,950 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year.
• On average, 1 in every 20 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point in their lives.
• The incidence rate of colorectal cancer is slightly higher in men than in women.
• Up to 60% of all colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented with annual screening appointments.
• 1 in every 4 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer have a family history of the disease.
• Based on current research, the median age of younger colorectal cancer patients (under 50) is 44, and over 75% of these cases are diagnosed in their forties.

Annual screening appointments are a necessity, but there is more a person can do to reduce their risk. People can lower their risk of colorectal cancer by living a healthy lifestyle that includes regular daily exercise, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol.

The good news is that with proper diligence, understanding, and an annual colonoscopy appointment, colorectal cancer is preventable and manageable. We highly recommend making a point of discussing your colon health with your healthcare provider during any annual appointment. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.