Shelia Lewis: Smith County Extension

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - and the perfect time to have a talk with your doctor.

Colorectal cancer is a serious threat, with approximately 56,000 Americans dying from it yearly. But you don't have to be one of these statistics; when colon cancer is found early, it is very curable.

Colon cancer occurs in the colon or rectum, which is the same thing as the large intestine. Colorectal cancer tends to occur in midlife, with 90 percent of colorectal cancers being diagnosed in persons, age 50 or older.

No racial or ethnic group is spared from this disease, although some may be at a higher risk of developing the disease. Colorectal cancer tends to occur and kill African Americans more often, followed by Caucasians, Asian Americans, Hispanics and American Indians.

If you are 50 or older, you should begin having regular tests for colon cancer. However, your doctor may have you screened earlier if you have a previous history of colorectal cancer or you have a family history. There are five different types of screening tests; talk to your doctor about which type of test you should have. These tests can find polyps, which are growths inside the colon or rectum, that are not normal. If these polyps are not removed, they can turn into cancer.

There are some things you can do to decrease your risk for colorectal cancer:

Shelia Lewis is a Smith County Extension agent in family and consumer sciences. She can be reached at sk-lewis@tamu.edu.

This column on family and consumer education news appears in the Thursday Community section of the Tyler Morning Telegraph

Now, let's be honest. When was the last time you had a colorectal screening if you're over the age of 50 or have a family history of this cancer? Remember that if polyps are found, they can be removed before turning into cancer. This cancer, when caught early, is highly curable, and you have a great chance of surviving this disease if it is caught early. Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Cancer Council encourage you to take charge of your health now, which will lead to a healthier tomorrow.

(LEWIS)