Have You Been Screened for Colorectal Cancer? The Time Is Now!
Date: 03/08/22
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Here in Louisiana, both the number of cases and number of deaths are significantly higher than the national average. Good news is that colorectal cancer is highly preventable, treatable and survivable.
One of the reasons we lose so many lives to colorectal cancer is lack of screening. Louisiana’s colorectal cancer screening rates are lower than the national average. If you are between the ages of 45 to 75, you should be screened for colorectal cancer. It’s important to be screened even if you do not have a family history of colorectal cancer, and even if you are not experiencing symptoms.
Important: African Americans and Cajuns are more susceptible to developing colorectal cancer, according to Louisiana Cancer Prevention and Control Programs. It is important to know our risk factors and arm ourselves against them.
Are you at risk for colorectal cancer? Here are the most common risk factors:
- Age 50 or older
- Family history or personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps
- Personal history of Type 2 Diabetes, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis
- Overweight
- Not physically active
- Smoke
- Drink a lot of alcohol
- Eat a lot of red or processed meat
How are the colorectal cancer screenings done?
Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps, which are abnormal growths in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can help find these abnormal growths so they can be removed before they turn into cancer.
There are several colorectal cancer screening strategies, including stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and CT colonography, also known as a virtual colonoscopy.
As a Louisiana Healthcare Connections member, all of your screenings are covered and come at no cost to you. Not to mention, you can earn My Health Pays™ rewards when you complete healthy activities like your screenings!
It’s important to get screened and tell others about why it’s important for them to get screened too. As fellow Louisianians, we need to look out for one another. Together, we can help ourselves and others avoid colorectal cancer, or detect and treat it earlier.