March is colorectal cancer awareness month and “It’s Our Job to Save Your Butt!” In all seriousness though, colorectal cancer is the fourth most diagnosed form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society the overall lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 23 (4.3%) for men and 1 in 25 (4%) for women. The good news is that if caught early nine out of ten people diagnosed will survive.

Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer

• Age 45 or older
• Lack of physical exercise
• Being overweight or obese
• Certain types of diets
• Family history of colorectal cancer
• Personal history of inflammatory intestinal conditions

How to Prevent Colorectal Cancer

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Increase physical activity
• Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
• Limit the amount of processed and red meats you eat
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol

Colorectal Cancer Screening

NOAH providers recommend people at average risk for colorectal cancer begin regular screenings at age 45. How often you get screened depends on the type of test you get.

Here’s a look at how the different options at NOAH stack up:

TEST NAME	TYPE	HOW IT WORKS	PREP	HOW OFTEN	COST VARIES BY INSURANCE (Often Covered in Full)
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)	Stool sample collected at home and mailed to a lab for testing	Looks for blood in the stool.	None	Every year	Least expensive
Cologuard Test	Stool sample collected at home and mailed to a lab for testing	Like the FIT test, looks for blood in the stool but also checks DNA in the stool for abnormal (possibly cancerous) cells	None	Every 3 years	More expensive than FIT test but less expensive than a colonoscopy
Colonoscopy	Visual screening performed in a hospital or specialized clinic	Checks for polyps (small growths in the colon or rectum) that may be cancerous or pre-cancerous	Requires bowel prep before the procedure and anesthesia during	Every 10 years	Most expensive

Talk with your provider about which type of test is right for you. Then, be sure to follow through with your testing, understand your results and even schedule a reminder on the calendar for your next screening.   

Questions? Ask away, we don’t mind because it’s our job to save you’re butt! Request an appointment today!