Colorectal cancer screening saves lives
The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health urges the public to be aware of the risks of colorectal cancer.
Faculty and staff at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health are using national Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to urge the public to be aware of the risks of colorectal cancer and understand that early diagnosis is important.
"Colorectal cancer cases continue to rise annually in adults younger than 50; it is now the leading cause of cancer death in that age group,” said Dr. Roshan Bastani, distinguished professor in the UCLA Fielding School’s Department of Health Policy and Management and director of the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity. "As March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, UCLA is using the commemoration to address this challenge on multiple fronts, from boosting screening and expanding access to care to developing new therapies for advanced disease."
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented. Regular screening, starting at age 45 for those with average risk, can identify polyps (growths in the lining of the colon or rectum) before they become cancer. If you screen with a colonoscopy, most polyps can even be removed at the time of screening.
For those people that are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, early diagnosis is important. The cure rate for Stage I colorectal cancer is more than 90%. If cancer isn't discovered until a later stage, the cure rate drops below 15%.
More information can be found on the Colorectal Cancer Alliance website, which also hosts a resources on treatment, online communities, and CRC research. Other sources for information include the Center for Cancer Prevention and Control Research, where Bastani serves as co-director, and UCLA Health's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she serves as a researcher.
