Vanderloo Family Medicine wants you to know that March is Colon Cancer Awareness month. Your primary care physician is the best place to start when looking for answers to questions you may have about your colon health. Dr. Vanderloo can talk with you about risk factors, lifestyle modification to help decrease your risks, and where to get screened. The key is prevention!

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offer the following Fast Facts:

• If you are age 50 to 75 years old, you should get screened for colorectal cancer.

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening beginning at age 50. Some groups recommend starting earlier, at age 45.

• The vast majority of new cases of colorectal cancer (about 90%) occur in people who are 50 or older.

• Millions of people in the United States are not getting screened as recommended. They are missing the chance to prevent colorectal cancer or find it early, when treatment often leads to a cure.

• If you think you may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer, learn your family health history and ask your doctor if you should begin screening before age 50.

If you would like more information, please contact us by clicking on the Get in Touch button on our website.