Get screened for colon cancer

Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, died at age 77 just 60 days after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer (aka colon cancer). Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, developed colon cancer at age 66 and died when she was 101 years old. What was the difference? Oh, you know the answer. It’s early detection.

The Colon Cancer Alliance speaks, “With regular screening, colon cancer can be found early, when treatment is most effective. In many cases, screening can prevent colon cancer by finding and removing polyps before they become cancer. And if cancer is present, earlier detection means a chance at a longer life — generally, five-year survival rates for colon cancer are lower the further advanced the disease is at detection.”

Although 90 to 95 percent of colon cancer deaths occur in those 50 years of age and older, this cancer doesn’t discriminate and can happen to men and women at any age. Remember, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. And, that one in 20 of us will get it.

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