Many people might not know that there are certain types of cancers that can be almost completely prevented. Colorectal cancer is one of them …and the Onondaga County Health Department is dedicating this month to colorectal cancer screenings. It’s the third most common cancer among men and women in the U.S. …yet a third of those most at risk don’t get tested. Public Health Educator Emily Young wonders if people have enough information.
We don’t know that we should get screened or maybe men know they should be screened but women don’t think they need to be screened. People may be unsure of the age group where they need to be screened and also if people know that that don’t have any symptoms for the disease, they may not understand that we still need to be screened.
Adults between age 50 and 75 are the ones who should be getting screened. The test can find pre-cancerous polyps in a person so that they can be removed before they turn cancerous.
Young says changes in health care are making screenings easier.
“If more people have health insurance then they may be more likely to be screened because it’s going to be a covered screening under their health insurance. But then there’s programs like we have at the health department here that, even if you don’t have health insurance, you can still be screened.”
The Onondaga County Health Department has a cancer services program where adults between 50 and 64 can receive free cancer screenings for colon cancer. You can find out more information about cancer screenings and treatment at ongov.net/heatlh.
Tuesday the American Cancer Society hosts and event uniting health organizations with local employers to increase colorectal cancer screenings.
