Knowing Your Family’s Colon Cancer History Could Save Your Life
Did you know that colorectal cancer is highly treatable if found in its early stages? Most people should start getting screened for colorectal cancer at age 50, but people with a family history are at higher risk and may need to be screened earlier.
The American Cancer Society is encouraging everyone to make a point to learn their family history of colon cancer, and reminding men and women 50 and older to get tested for the disease even if they have no family history.
The Society has made it easier than ever to learn about it with the Family PLZ! campaign, developed by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. The website (www.familyplz.org) provides tools to help you search and share your family history of colorectal cancer with your doctor and loved ones. The campaign also encourages younger generations to participate in the discussions.
Our Director of Prostate & Colorectal Cancer, Durado Brooks, M.D., M.P.H., sat down with us recently to talk about colon cancer awareness and the importance of screening. Check out this video below, where Dr. Brooks says “the most important thing to remember about colon cancer is that it is preventable, treatable and beatable.”
Talk to your family and learn your family’s colon cancer history. It’s a conversation that could help save your life.
