During the month of March, the American Cancer Society would like to remind men and women 50 years of age and older to talk to their physicians about colon cancer screening options.

Colon cancer is one of only two cancers, cervical cancer being the other, that can actually be prevented through screening. Polyps can be removed before they turn cancerous and screening can also improve survival chances dramatically. Colon cancer’s survival rate is 90 percent when detected early. However, because only about half of Americans get regular screening only four in ten cases are diagnosed at the early stage.

“We have an opportunity to significantly reduce death rates from colon cancer through regular screening,” Director, American Cancer Society of Mid-Indiana, Jim Leslie said. “However, there may be barriers to screening such as a lack of health insurance. We hope that people will use this month as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and take the opportunity to make screening a priority and talk to their doctors, family members and friends about getting tested. By doing so, they are taking a key step toward staying well.”

According to the press release, studies show that being overweight or obese increases risk of colon cancer and individuals with diets that include a high amount of red and processed meats are at an increased risk.

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity five or more days a week. It is also recommended that individuals consume a healthy diet which includes five or more servings of vegetables and fruits each day, whole grains instead of processed grains and sugars, limited alcohol and controlled portion sizes. Risk factors for colon cancer also include a personal family history of the disease.

For information, contact Karen Vandoski at (317) 344-7814 or online at karen.copp@cancer.org.