Doctors urge screening during Colorectal Awareness Month

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Colorectal crab is the 2nd astir communal crab among men and women.

Doctors astatine St. Agnes Medical Center are encouraging radical to instrumentality steps to support their wellness during Colorectal Awareness Month.

In 2025, the National Cancer Institute estimated that much than 150,000 radical successful the United States were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. While immoderate cases are linked to household history, doctors accidental astir diagnoses hap without an inherited cause.

"Most colorectal cancers are sporadic, which means you don't person immoderate benignant of inherited risk. About 10% - 15% are familial, which means household members whitethorn person it. But determination is nary inherited familial origin which is causing it, astir 5% is inherited," said Dr. Deepa Sharma, a colon and rectal surgeon with St. Agnes Medical Center.

According to the American Cancer Society, incidence rates of colorectal crab person dropped among older adults, but cases successful radical younger than 50 person accrued by adjacent to 3%. Doctors accidental though men are diagnosed much often, women are besides susceptible.

"Most aboriginal colorectal cancers are asymptomatic, but patients tin person symptoms. One of the astir communal symptoms is rectal bleeding," Sharma said.

Dr. Sharma said aboriginal detection and diagnosis are cardinal to preventing the illness from spreading.

"We cognize that colorectal crab starts disconnected arsenic polyps," she said.

Doctors accidental screening tin trim the hazard of colorectal cancer. There are respective investigating options disposable for people.

"You tin get a stool trial with detecting humor successful the stool oregon a acceptable test, which has to beryllium done each year, and determination is the cologuard of a acceptable DNA test, which has to beryllium done each 3 years," Sharma said.

Dr. Sharma says a colonoscopy remains the astir effectual screening tool, recommending that radical statesman screening astatine property 45.

"We person a bully look astatine the colon and marque definite if determination is thing abnormal similar a polyp. We instrumentality it retired and if determination is thing other that is abnormal, we bash a biopsy," Sharma said.

Treatment for colorectal crab has improved implicit the past decade. The National Cancer Institute reports the illness present has a endurance complaint of conscionable implicit 65%. Doctors besides accidental maintaining steadfast manner habits tin assistance trim the hazard of processing cancer.

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