…Your colon’s
With cervical cancer behind her, Lana Boes didn’t dream she might have colon cancer.
“I was right at my five-year mark. Another cancer wasn’t on my mind,” she says – even though the disease took her mother’s life years before.
Lana, Principal Compliance Leader, discovered she had colon cancer via a colonoscopy. After chemo and a two-year clinical trial, Lana has no evidence of disease and works tirelessly to help survivors and others battling cancer via a colon cancer support group. Lana also shares her experience to encourage others to get screened for colorectal cancers.
Why and when to get screened – March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. yet is very preventable. Precancerous polyps found during a colonoscopy can be removed at once. The screening procedure can also detect cancer at early stages, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the first colonoscopy should be at age 45 for Americans with an average risk of colorectal cancer. After the first colonoscopy, regular screenings are recommended every 10 years through age 75. You can use at-home screening tests like Cologuard, whose widely-used tests are equally effective.
Who’s at risk for cancer of the colon or rectum?
- It’s more common in men than women.
- It’s more common among African Americans than people of other races.
- 78% of newly diagnosed patients are age 55 and older.
Preventive health starts with your primary care provider
Do you have a doctor you see at least once a year? That relationship is important. A primary care doctor will recommend screenings at the right time. If you don’t have a primary care provider and you work in Louisville or at Roper, check out the onsite CareATC clinic. They are confidential, low-cost and you get more time with a provider.
CareATC Wellness Center at Appliance Park
The Roper Wellness Center powered by CareATC
Call CareATC at Appliance Park or Roper to discuss getting a Cologuard screening this month!