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The American Cancer Society encourages everyone 50 and older to get tested for colon cancer

By Cheril Lee

Omaha, NE – March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Mike Lefler is the Director of Communications for the Nebraska Region of American Cancer Society. He says approximately 141,000 people are diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer each year. Lefler says about 49,000 people will die from the disease this year in the United States. He says early detection plays a key role in fighting the disease, with a 90 percent survival rate if detected early. Lefler says, "for the better part of the last 20 years, the rates have been steadily declining in terms of incidence and deaths of colorectal cancer. A large part of this has to do with the advances we've made in screening and awareness. A lot of people are actually getting out there and getting their colonoscopies and catching cancer when it's in a polyp form instead of when it's in a cancerous form."

The latest screening guidelines say everyone should be tested at age 50. Lefler says in addition to being tested, individuals may reduce their risk of colon cancer by staying active, quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet. Screening guidelines are available online at cancer.org.