March is Colon Cancer Awareness month

Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer for both men and women.  Yet most of these deaths could be prevented if everyone over the age of 50 got screened for colorectal cancer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are often no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer, so the best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screened. If left undiagnosed or undetected, colorectal cancer can spread throughout the body.

Winneshiek Medical Center surgeon Dr. Hamid Kakavandi says risk factors for having colon cancer include being over the age of 50; having growths (polyps) inside the colon; having a family history of colorectal cancer; smoking; being African-American; and having certain health conditions like Crohn's Disease.

However, you can reduce your risk of getting colon cancer by being active; eating healthy foods and quitting smoking, in addition to getting screened.