HEALTH & WELLNESS By Jonathan Welsh
IMPROVING COLORECTAL HEALTH AND REDUCING THE RISK OF COLON CANCER
If you have got a colon, then you are at-risk for colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a disease that starts in the lower portion of your digestive system. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in 23 men and one in 25 women will develop this cancer at some point in their lives. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths. Most people who get colon cancer are over 50. However, in the last decade the rate of colon cancer has increased in younger adults. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you might benefit from earlier screenings. It can strike anyone, even otherwise healthy people with no family history of the disease. Until August 31, 2021, Care Resource is offering a NOCOST fecal immunochemical test (FIT) for uninsured patients, plus a $20 gift card for all patients who receive a colon cancer screening or proof of colonoscopy. There are several methods used to detect colon cancer today. The first is a colonoscopy. This is an endoscopic examination of the large bowel and the distal part of the small bowel with a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera. The second method is the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) that tests for hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of cancer. FIT only detects human blood from the lower intestines. Lastly, there is Cologuard®, a stoolDNA screening test for detecting colon cancer that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Cologuard® looks for changes in your DNA that could indicate the presence of colon cancer or precancerous polyps that might be present in your colon. Speak with a Care Resource medical provider today at 305-576-1234 to see if and when you should get screened for colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is common and preventable. Not all cancers can be prevented – but colon cancer can be!
