The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that nearly
3,400 Hoosiers will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and an estimated 1,100
will die as a result of the disease this year. Screening and early detection
can save lives, and screening does not have to be expensive or uncomfortable,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the Indiana State
Department of Health (ISDH) is urging Hoosiers to get regular screenings and
make healthy lifestyle choices to reduce their risks of developing the disease,
which is the third-most commonly diagnosed cancer among both men and women in
Indiana.
“By choosing to avoid tobacco products, eating a healthy diet, exercising and
getting regular recommended screenings, Hoosiers can greatly reduce their risk
of colorectal cancer,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG.
According to the ACS, regular colorectal cancer screenings are one of the most
important tools to prevent colorectal cancer. With regular screenings, most
polyps can be found and removed before they have the chance to turn into
cancer. Screening can also find colorectal cancer early, when it’s small and
easier to treat.
The two greatest risk factors for developing colorectal cancer are gender and
age. More than half of Indiana’s cases from 2011 to 2015 were diagnosed in men,
and nearly 90 percent of those cases were in residents age 50 and older.
However, there has been a recent, concerning trend toward increased incidence
in young individuals. Other risk factors include race, personal or family
history of colorectal cancer or polyps, a personal history of chronic
inflammatory bowel disease, certain inherited genetic conditions such as Lynch
syndrome and being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. For more information about
colorectal cancer in Indiana, visit the ISDH’s website at www.StateHealth.in.gov or
the Indiana Cancer Consortium at indianacancer.org.
For important health and safety tips, follow on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and
on Facebook at facebook.com/isdh1.