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March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

According to Healthfinder.gov, of all cancers affecting both women and men, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Colorectal cancer is most often diagnosed in men and women over the age of 50, and unlike many other types of cancer, it affects all racial and ethnic groups.

Here’s the good news, also according to healthfinder.gov: With regular screenings among men and women over the age of 50, six out of 10 deaths related to colorectal cancer could be prevented. Early diagnosis is key, so getting screened is a must.

This month, the Kaiser Permanente Care Stories blog shares personal accounts of people for whom screening meant an early catch of what could have been a much scarier diagnosis at a later time.

One of these stories, highlighted in this video, is the story of Jim Tate, whose at-home, mailed-in screening — using something called a fecal immunochemical test (also known as a FIT test) — prompted his physician to order a colonoscopy. Pre-cancerous polyps were discovered, and the early diagnosis was addressed. More on Jim’s story can be found on the Care Stories blog.

For more information on colorectal cancer awareness month, visit healthfinder.gov. And for more information on the FIT test, watch the video below.

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