Colorectal Cancer Awareness
What You Need to Know About Early Detection
Over 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year; greater than 90% of the diagnoses could be avoided with screening. That’s because during a colonoscopy, the doctor can find and remove most polyps and some cancers. When colon cancer is diagnosed at stage 1, patients have a 90% survival rate; when diagnosed at stage 4, the survival rate drops to 14%.
DetecTogether’s 3 Steps Detect education creates awareness and gets people to the doctor, so doctors can conduct necessary exams and diagnostics in a timely way. Putting off addressing symptoms is never a good idea. If it’s cancer, cancer doesn’t cure itself and delaying diagnosis only allows it to get worse.
Read related story: Colon Cancer on the Rise in Younger People
Hear From an Expert: Be Proactive About Your Health
Dr. Justin Maykel, Chief of Colorectal Surgery at UMass Memorial Health, and member of the DetecTogether Board of Advisors, shares usable knowledge with us as part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
View the videos below to learn more.
Hear From a Survivor: Don’t Be Embarrassed
Carly Goodell diagnosed at 20. Carly made many trips to the doctor and emergency room with symptoms that some might consider embarassing—stomach pain, blood in stool, and regular vomiting. Nobody considered cancer. She was too young. But, Carly persisted, shared symptoms with her healthcare providers and was finally diagnosed. She had colon cancer.
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Hear From the Family: “I Waited Too Long.”
FDNY Lt. Eddie McDonagh was diagnosed with cancer at 46. Eddie had symptoms for almost a year before he went to see his doctor. His delayed diagnosis cost him his life. When something doesn’t feel right, get it checked out.
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