MARCH 2015
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Colorectal Cancer Screening
Nolan the Colon - Colorectal Cancer Educational Display
Alaskans
are getting screened for cancer, and they’re talking about it.
Dr.
Paul Davis of Anchorage joins a dozen other Alaska residents on the Alaska Colorectal Cancer Partnership
website to talk about why they got screened for cancer.
According
to the American
Cancer Society, one out of every two men will be diagnosed with cancer
during his lifetime. One out of every three women will be diagnosed with cancer
during her lifetime. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Alaska.
Dr.
Davis got screened for colorectal cancer — the second most deadly form of
cancer death in Alaska (Alaska Cancer Registry, 2008 – 2012). It does not have
to be. Screening can prevent this cancer or catch it early when it is highly
treatable. This cancer can be prevented by removing polyps (growths in the
intestine) before they become cancerous.
“This is really the
only screening test that has been proven to not only save lives and prevent
cancer as well as find it early enough to be cured, but it’s also changing the
whole face of cancer in this country,” Dr. Davis said on the Alaska Colorectal
Cancer Partnership website.
“We’ve been doing colonoscopies and removing polyps for 20 years and guess
what? The rates of colon cancer are starting to go down.”
Early Detection
Screening
for colorectal cancer is recommended for those at average risk to begin at age
50, and at age 40 if they are Alaska Native, according to the U.S. Preventive Services
Task Force and the Alaska Native
Tribal Health Consortium. There are several tests to consider, including a
colonoscopy every 10 years or a yearly Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) test that
looks for blood in the stool. For more information on which screening option is
right for you, see your healthcare provider or use this link: Choosing
the right test for Colorectal Screening.
Prevention
According
to the Prevent Cancer Foundation, cancer
risk can be lowered by living a healthy lifestyle:
-
Being
physically active for at least 30 minutes at least five days a week;
- Maintain
a healthy weight.
-
Eating
fruits, vegetables and whole grains;
- Eating less red meat and avoiding processed meat;
- Not smoking;
- Limiting your alcohol use to no more than one
drink a day for women, and two drinks a day for men; and
- Getting screened for cancer.
The
National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable is
challenging us to increase our screening for colorectal cancer to 80%
of adults ages 50 and older being regularly screened by 2018. In order to
meet this goal, all organizations are invited to join the Alaska Colorectal
Cancer Partnership to increase awareness about colorectal cancer, increase
access to screening, and decrease the number of Alaskans who die from this
disease.
During
March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, be on the lookout for Nolan The
Colon, the inflatable colon making visits to colorectal cancer events across
Alaska, including the Alaska Native Medical
Center, Southcentral
Foundation in both Anchorage and Mat Su, and Fairbanks Tanana Chiefs, to name a
few. Visit www.alaskacolonhealth.org
to hear from Alaskans who got screened and are now sharing their stories.
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