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ARH surgeon presents colorectal cancer program
Low Moor - According the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States (excluding skin cancers). Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States with an estimated 52,180 deaths (26,000 men and 26, 180 women) during 2007.
In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Month, Alleghany Regional Hospital and Dr. Paul LaBrie will present a program on Colorectal Cancer Prevention. The program will be held on Thursday, March 27 at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room B of the hospital.
LaBrie will conduct a brief program and accept questions about the signs, symptoms and prevention of colorectal cancer. The program is open to the public and free of charge. To ensure adequate seating, please call the Consult-A-Nurse reservation line toll free at (877) 242-2362.
The number of deaths from colorectal cancer has been dropping for the past 15 years. There are a number of likely reasons for this. One probable reason is polyps are found by screening and removed before they can develop into cancers.
Screening also allows more colorectal cancers to be found earlier when the disease is easier to cure. In addition, treatment for colorectal cancer has improved over the last 10 years, allowing for more effective options for people with this diagnosis. Because of this, there are around one million survivors of colorectal cancer in the United States.
One of the most powerful weapons in preventing colorectal cancer is regular colorectal cancer screening or testing. Regular colorectal cancer screening can, in many cases, prevent colorectal cancer altogether. This is because some polyps, or growths, can be detected and removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer. Screening can also result in finding colorectal cancer early, when it is highly curable.
From the time the first abnormal cells start to grow, it usually takes about 10 to 15 years for them to develop into colorectal cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, regular screenings could eliminate as many as 60 percent of deaths due to this disease each year.
There are several tests used to screen for colorectal cancer and different options for those with an average risk of colorectal cancer. Personal physicians can be asked which tests are available and the best option. People who have no identified risk factors (other than age) should begin regular screening at age 50.
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