Ortho | Sports Medicine
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. In the United States, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the leading cause of cancer death in people under the age of 50 (American Cancer Society). The United States is estimated to have over 150,000 new cases of colon/rectal cancer this year. The silver lining is that colorectal cancer is highly preventable with proper screening and preventative action.
Speaking to your doctor about your risk is always the best place to start. There are many things that you can do to decrease your risk, like staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, not smoking, and eating a high-fiber diet. People aged 45-85 should be screened regularly and people with additional risk factors should consider starting their screening even earlier. Screening can lead to early detection when treatments are most effective. It’s never too early to start the conversation of what screening options are right for you.
If you are age 45 or older, you should consider getting a colonoscopy. Talk to your doctor to see what screening options are best for you. Valor Health General Surgeon, Dr. Zachary Bastian, shares, “The most common things I hear from my patients are I didn’t know I needed one, no one told me I needed one, and I wasn’t having any problems. If you’re over 45 and you’ve never had a colonoscopy, you probably need one. If you’re just not ready to talk to your doctor about it yet, ask about getting one of our free detection kits. It could save your life. Talk to your doctor.”
About Valor Health: Valor Health is a county-owned, non-profit rural healthcare system serving Emmett, Idaho and the surrounding Gem County region. As a critical access hospital and healthcare provider, Valor Health offers a wide range of services including emergency care, family medicine, specialty medicine, surgical services, pain management, wound care, dialysis, cancer care and orthopedics. With a mission to improve the wellness and health of all generations, Valor Health is committed to delivering high-quality, close-to-home, compassionate care that evolves with the changing needs of its community. For more information, visit www.valorhealth.org.