March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer, and the second leading cause of overall cancer deaths in the United States. Early detection through screening, however, can drastically change these numbers.

Thanks to improvements in prevention, early detection, and treatment, more than a million people in the U.S. count themselves as survivors of colorectal cancer.

If you’re 50 or older, getting a screening test for colon cancer could save your life. Professional guidelines emphasize the importance of regular colorectal screening, including through colonoscopy. Screening detects precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colon cancer early, when treatment often leads to a cure.

Who should be screened and when? According to the American Cancer Society, the following guidelines should be used to determine when and how often you should be screened:

• All men and women should be screened for colon cancer beginning at age 50, or earlier if they have certain risk factors or symptoms.
• People with a personal history of colorectal polyps or inflammatory bowel disease (not irritable bowel syndrome) are at increased risk of colorectal cancer and may need to start being screened earlier and on a more frequent basis.
• Racial and ethnic background plays a role in colorectal cancer risk. African-American men and women are diagnosed with and die from colorectal cancer at higher rates than men and women of any other U.S. racial or ethnic group. The reason for this is not yet fully understood. Also, Jews of Eastern European descent have one of the highest colorectal cancer risks of any ethnic group in the world.
• People with a family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or who are experiencing symptoms, are considered high risk and may need to begin screening before the age 50. People with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who has colon cancer have an increased risk of developing colon cancer. Your primary care physician will be able to advise when you should start getting screened.
• People with type 2 (usually non-insulin dependent) diabetes have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Along with getting screened, there are steps you can take to help prevent colorectal cancer. Changing some of these lifestyle habits can lower the risk of many other types of cancer, as well as other serious diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

• Do not use tobacco in any form – if you use tobacco, seek help to quit now. Maryland offers a free, 24/7 quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Quit Tobacco classes and other helpful resources also are available through the St. Mary’s County Health Department. Click here for more information about the Quit Tobacco classes.
• Get to and stay at a healthy weight throughout life.
• Be physically active and limit the time you spend being sedentary (watching TV, playing video games, etc.).
• Eat at least 2 ½ cups of vegetables and fruits each day, and include whole grains over refined grains in your diet. Be sure to get your fiber from food, not supplements; studies have not been able to show that supplements help lower your risk at colorectal cancer.
• Limit the amount of red meat and processed meat you eat.
• If you drink alcohol, limit the amount to no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 per day for men. A single drink amounts to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ½ ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (hard liquor).

Through the St. Mary’s County Health Department’s Colorectal Cancer Program, eligible residents can receive screening services at no cost to them. Limited funds also may be available to help with treatment costs for colorectal cancer. Click here to learn about the health department’s Colorectal Cancer Program. To learn more about colon cancer symptoms, screening and prevention, visit the American Cancer Society’s website.