Silent But Deadly

Taking Control of Colorectal Cancer

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, an important time to highlight the increased risk
of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Black communities, where individuals are more likely to be
diagnosed with and die from this disease. CRC is often called a “silent” cancer because
symptoms may not appear until it is more advanced, but early detection saves lives. Routine
screening should begin at age 45 for most adults—earlier if there is a family history or other risk
factors—and options include colonoscopy (the gold standard), the FIT test, and stool DNA tests.
Healthy lifestyle choices such as eating fruits and vegetables, exercising, limiting alcohol, and
avoiding tobacco use can also lower your risk. When detected early, CRC is highly treatable,
with more than 90% of early-stage patients surviving at least five years.
Tag at the end:
For more information, please find the helpful websites:
Colorectal Cancer Alliance
https://colorectalcancer.org/get-involved/advocate/colorectal-cancer-awareness-month
Black Physicians of Utah
https://bpou.org/colorectal-cancer-awareness-month/