Did you know that 50,000 Americans die of colon cancer every year? Or that colon cancer it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths both among men and women?

In fact, it is estimated that one in 20 men and women will be diagnosed with cancer of the colon and rectum during their lifetime.  The good news is that colon cancer can almost always be caught by colonoscopy in its earliest and most curable stages. 

Nearly all colon cancers begin as noncancerous (benign) polyps, which slowly develop into cancer. Colonoscopy is able to detect and remove these polyps and that prevents cancer.  

The American Cancer Society recommends colorectal screenings for all men and women beginning at age 50, but if you have a family history of colon cancer, and/or have an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you have a higher risk of developing colon cancer and should talk with your physician about regular screenings.

The death rate for colon cancer has dropped in the last 15 years and one of the reasons is believed to be due to an increased awareness and screening by colonoscopy. In spite of this, more than a third of our population has not been screened for this dreaded disease.  Don’t become one of the statistics; make this your year for taking better care of your health and schedule your colonoscopy today.  Let’s get screened!

By Jagdish Nachnani, M.D., Gastroenterologist

Dr. Nachnani is a  gastroenterologist and hepatologist on staff at Sumner Regional Medical Center and Sumner Medical Group in Gallatin.