Feb 27, 2018   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Get Your Screen On -- Spread the Message for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and encouraging people to make the choice to get screened is a top priority for the American Gastroenterological Association. Please join us in spreading the word on the importance of screening.

Do you have a colorectal cancer screening experience you'd like to share to encourage others to get screened? If so, please contact media@gastro.org.

Colorectal Cancer Facts:

    --  Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in
        men and women in the U.S. (1)
    --  Colorectal cancer is expected to cause about 50,630 deaths during 2018.
    --  You can decrease your risk for colon cancer by increasing physical
        activity, maintaining a healthy diet, reducing alcohol and quitting
        smoking. (2)
    --  Colorectal cancer mostly starts with no symptoms at all, which is why
        routine screening beginning at age 50 (age 45 for African Americans) for
        all normal-risk individuals is so important. (3)
    --  High-risk individuals, such as those with inflammatory bowel disease or
        Lynch syndrome or those who have a family history of colon cancer or
        polyps, should talk to their doctor about getting screened earlier.
        Screening and removing colon polyps is the only way to prevent colon
        cancer.(4)

This year, AGA has created a brief video, titled Life Matters, providing real reasons why people get screened for colorectal cancer. All month long we will be sharing stories of everyday people who have chosen to get screened and their motivation for doing so on our Facebook page.

AGA offers resources to learn more about paying for a colonoscopy and the different screening options:

Colorectal Cancer
What to Expect: Paying for Your Colonoscopy
CRC Screening At-A-Glance

(1 )https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
(2 )https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
(3 )https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
(4) http://www.gastro.org/attachments/6448/1_CRC_Overview_Design_2017.pdf

About the AGA Institute

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to more than 16,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org.

Like AGA on Facebook.
Join AGA on LinkedIn.
Follow us on Twitter @AmerGastroAssn.
Check out our videos on YouTube.

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SOURCE American Gastroenterological Association