Wear Blue For National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

February 2024

In honor of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Leakesville Rehabilitation & Nursing Center is helping you and your loved ones better understand the risks, symptoms and prevention of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer is a form of cancer that affects the cells of the colon or the rectum. Among cancers that affect both men and women, Colorectal Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

Every year, about 147,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 53,000 die from it. The risk of getting this cancer increases with age. More than 90 percent of cases occur in people aged 50 or older.

Symptoms

• Blood in stool or other changes in bowel movements
• Abdominal or pelvic pain, aches or cramps that do not go away
• Stomach bloating
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

Who is at greater risk?

• Those with inflammatory bowel disease
• Those with a personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer
• Those with genetic syndromes such as Lynch syndrome

What can you do to reduce your risk?

• If you are 50 years old or older, getting a screening test for colorectal cancer could save your life.
• Screenings can find precancerous polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer.
• Screenings also can find cancer early, when treatment often leads to a cure.

When should you begin to get screened?

• You should begin screening at age 50, and then continue getting screened regularly until age 75.
• Which screening test you choose depends on your risk, your preference and your doctor. For people age 50 and older, please don’t hesitate to get screened. Talk to your doctor today about what puts you at risk and what test is best for you.

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