March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers you can be diagnosed with, and it's the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. It is a very treatable cancer as long as it is caught early. Once you hit the 50 years mark, you will want to see your doctor about getting a colonoscopy.
"The reason why we start at age 50 is because the development of polyps for the most part becomes important once you reach that age," says Dr. Phillip Gafford, a surgical oncologist with Lima Memorial. "That's when the risks of them actually being cancerous increase."
Gafford says you'll want to get your colon checked every 10 years unless you have a family history of colon cancer. In that case, it is best to go every 5 years to make sure your colon stays cancer-free.
