March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  Men and women over the age of 50 are urged to get screened for colorectal cancer.  The screening can detect colorectal cancer and also can detect polyps in their formative stage that can turn into cancer if not removed.  According to information supplied by the American Cancer Society and  its Southern Tier branch colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women.

Polyps that are detected can be removed during the screening.  A polyp starts out as a non-cancerous growth but in certain cases can turn malignant.  Polyps begin on the lining of the colon or rectum.  They become more likely to develop in people age 50 and over.   If not removed these polyps can grow and often can become cancerous.

The American Cancer Society reports that as many as 11,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year in the state of New York and up to 4,000 of those cases turn fatal.  If you 50 or older don't delay.  A screening could save your life.

 

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