Cook County Health recognizes Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer diagnosed and the second leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S., but it doesn't have to be.

The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk (no personal or family history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease) of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45, and people who are in good health and with a life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through the age of 75.

Cook County Health recommends the following colorectal cancer screening tests:

• Stool-based tests

• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)

• Colonoscopy

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy

• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy)

• Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)

Reduce your risk by managing your diet, weight, physical activity and by avoiding tobacco.

If all adults 45 and older are screened for colorectal cancer, thousands of deaths each year could be prevented and it would prevent many people from ever getting the disease.