March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the time of year when you’ll see lots of reminders about colon health and the importance of getting screened for this type of cancer – screenings that can prevent the second leading cause of cancer deaths. In fact, new data now reveals colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women under 50 years of age.

Colorectal cancer is common with more than 150,000 new cases found each year. Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening because physicians can not only identify cancer in its early stages, they can find and remove precancerous polyps, essentially preventing cancer from developing.

The recommended age to begin colon screenings has changed from 50 to 45, meaning that more people are now eligible for this important screening.

We’re hoping that every single adult in our area — age 45 and older — will take advantage of this opportunity to save themselves the pain, trouble and expense of cancer, and perhaps even save their lives.

Colorectal cancer is very treatable when discovered in its earliest stages. It’s even preventable when physicians have the opportunity to find and remove precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer.

Thanks to increasing numbers of people being screened, along with better treatment options, the rate of deaths in older adults is decreasing annually. However, the same decline in death rates from colon cancer in people under 50 has not been realized, emphasizing the importance of starting screening promptly at age 45, and even at an earlier age in some patients with family history of colon cancer or certain genetic syndromes.

For those dreading the exam and the prep, it’s important to remember that preventing colon cancer can save you from cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Yet everyone has seen the ads featuring middle-aged adults who choose an at-home option for colon cancer screening. While colonoscopy is considered the gold standard, at-home tests are an option. An at-home screening is better than no screening at all.

They include:

• Multi-target stool DNA or FIT-DNA (known as Cologuard®). It’s shown to be 92% effective at finding colon cancer, which is close but not quite as effective as colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is also better at detecting precancerous polyps.

• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT). It’s 80% effective at finding a cancer, yet when compared to FIT-DNA tests the FIT produces fewer false positive results.

A positive result on either one of these tests would require further testing of a colonoscopy to see if it’s a false positive or if there is a cancerous growth or precancerous polyp that’s causing the positive result.

A conversation with your provider is the best way to get the facts. You can then tailor your own decision, based on your health and your history.

Whatever your age, if you experience possible signs of colorectal cancer, it’s important to see your provider. Symptoms include:

• Bowel habit changes like diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of stool that continues for days

• Bloating or a feeling like you need a bowel movement that isn’t relieved by going to the bathroom

• Pain, tenderness or cramping in the lower abdomen

• Rectal bleeding, blood in the stool or dark stools

• Unintended weight loss and fatigue

You can help reduce your cancer risk by getting more exercise and eating a better diet, including less red meat, more whole grains and more fruits and vegetables. Moderate your alcohol use, and leave processed products on the shelf.

Every small step adds up to reduced risk. Yet colon cancer screening is a big step in cancer prevention that you don’t want to skip.

— Debbie Streier is regional president/CEO, Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center