ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and with more than 55,000 related deaths expected in 2026 alone, UW Health experts say it’s time to get screened.
Dr. Lanceford Chong, a radiation oncologist with UW Health says colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
The latest national guidelines recommend beginning routine screening at age 45 for people at average risk.
What is Colorectal Cancer
Dr. Chong explains colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum. Colon cancer and rectal cancer ae often grouped together because of the common features they share.
Most colorectal cancers start as a growth, or polyps, on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps are quite common, and most are noncancerous. The American Cancer Society explains, the change of a polyp turning into cancer depends on the type of polyp it is. Learn more about polyp types on ACS website…