LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and GI Physicians Inc. is using a walk-through colon to emphasize the importance of colonoscopies and early detection of colorectal cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer this year, and another 50,000 will die from the disease. During a routine procedure like a colonoscopy, GI Physicians can detect and remove polyps.
“But by taking them out, we can prevent the colon cancer. If we don't screen the colon for polyps, they change into the malignant polyps, then they change into full-blown cancer. That's why it's important to have the screening colonoscopy, because the colon cancer is the number two cancer in men and women in the United States. That's why it's important to get the screen,” said Dr. Ven Kottapalli of GI Physicians Inc.
Starting colonoscopies at age 45 can help people detect and treat the disease early.
“Most recent American Cancer Society study showed the colon cancer starts at the age 45 even in our practice, we had five people that has age less than 40 has colon cancer. That's why we do recommend the people to screen at the age of 45 and people who have family history of colon cancer or family history of polyposis syndrome like FAP (Familial adenomatous polyposis), then we ask them to screen at earlier age,” added Dr. Kottapalli.
The American Cancer Society reports that Ohio has one of the highest colorectal cancer rates in the country. However, the number of nationwide deaths from the disease has steadily declined since the mid-1980s due to increased screening and lifestyle changes.
