Talking to your patients

Here are a few talking points you can use when speaking to patients about colorectal cancer screening:

Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer, but it doesn’t have to be.
Screening can prevent the cancer or catch it early when it’s highly treatable.
Most insurance plans cover 100% of the cost of screening with no co-pays or deductibles. Even without insurance, there are low cost, reliable options. Let’s talk about the one that is right for you.
Make and keep your appointment to be screened.
Then, talk about your experience and encourage other people you know to be screened too.

Your Stories

Having a colonoscopy saved my life or at a minimum has prolonged it. Two weeks after turning 50 I had a colonoscopy because it is recommended at this milestone age. I had no family history of colon cancer and had no symptoms. (I know the importance of cancer screenings because my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer after an annual mammogram). The screening revealed stage 4 colon cancer. I started chemo therapy right way, then had surgery to remove all the cancerous lesions and am cancer free today. If I had waited even a few months, my treatment options and outcome would have been much different. SCREENINGS SAVE LIVES! Unlucky for me, my cancer started growing before age 50 but if you are over 50 OR have a family history of colon cancer OR you are having any symptoms, GO GET SCREENED and encourage your loved ones to do it too!

Anonymous