The American Cancer Society recently published these statistics:

• Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women, excluding skin cancers.
• The risk of developing colorectal cancer in your lifetime is 1 in 19.
• Over 108,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2008.
• Close to 50,000 people will die from the disease this year alone.

As grim as the above statistics may seem, there have been significant improvements made during the last twenty years in the fight against colorectal cancer. Survival rates continue to rise year after year, due particularly to the strength and reliability of preventive screenings. The word is out and people are taking advantage of the testing that is available.

Colorectal cancers begin as polyps on the lining of the colon. Most polyps are benign and can be removed before turning into cancer. Colonoscopy is a preventive procedure that saves lives, making it possible to locate and remove polyps with great accuracy before they become cancer. Recently, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that flat growths on the colon wall are more common in Americans than previously thought and more likely to be cancerous. This provides us with even further evidence that colonoscopy can be a life-saving procedure when it detects these more dangerous flat growths.

Prevention is key in the fight against all types of cancer. Here are some preventive measures you can take to protect yourself against the dangers of colorectal cancer:

1. Schedule a colon cancer screening if you’re 50 or older. Start at age 40 or sooner if you have a family history of colon cancer.
2. Consume a low fat, low cholesterol diet that is high in fiber.
3. Maintain a healthy weight.
4. Stay active and exercise regularly.
5. Don’t smoke.

By following these simple guidelines, you will enhance a lifetime of good health.

Yours in good health,

Louis S. Saco, MD
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer