Dear Editor,
According to the American Cancer Society, the number of people being diagnosed with colorectal cancer across the country has increased by as much as 2% every year since the mid-1990’s in people younger than age 55. They also project that colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer-related death among 20–49-year-olds by 2030. That’s only six years away! Thankfully, we can take action against this disease.
Regular screening can catch colorectal cancer when it’s most easily treated or even preventable. Colorectal cancer screening tests can find the growths that lead to cancer. These growths can then be removed. This prevents cancer! Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early when treatment may work best.
If you are 45 or older and at average risk for colorectal cancer, it’s time to get screened! You may need to be screened earlier than age 45 if you have a family history of colorectal cancer, have symptoms like blood in your stool, stomach pain that doesn’t go away, changes in bowel movements, or you’ve lost weight without trying. If this sounds like you, talk to your health care provider right away.
If you do not have health insurance or a health care provider, call the Cancer Services Program of the North Country. We offer free colorectal cancer screening and follow-up services to New Yorkers aged 45 and older who qualify. Don’t delay, call us at 855-592-0830 and check us out at: www.oco.org or follow the program on https://www.facebook.com/oco.free.cancer.screenings.
Carolyn Handville
Program Manager
CSP of North Country
Sources if needed:
- https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2024/2024-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf
- https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/2023-cancer-factsfigures.html
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