Need to be screened? It could save your life.
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.
Men and women at average risk of colorectal cancer need to get screened starting at age 45 even if they have no family history and feel healthy*. People at increased risk of colorectal cancer should talk to their doctor about when to begin screening, which test is right for them, and how often to get tested.
Most insurance plans cover all the cost of screening with no out-of-pocket cost such as co-pays or deductibles. Even without insurance, there are low cost, reliable options, including ones you can do at home.
Talk to your doctor about the one that’s right for you. Get screened. Then share your experience and encourage people you know to get screened too.
Your story could save a life.
*The American Cancer Society now recommends screening beginning at age 45 for all average-risk adults.
Your Stories
I stay in pretty good shape, I try to eat the right foods. But you don’t know what’s in your colon until you look in there. At age 63, it was just time to get checked. They didn’t find any polyps; the doctor said to repeat the colonoscopy in five years. With colorectal cancer, if you get it early enough, you can take care of it. If you don’t, it’s too late…Black men in general don’t like to go to doctors and do that kind of personal stuff. If I can encourage more black men to get to the doctor, I want to do that.
Cornelius “Mac” McCormick, retired university administrator and track coach
Summit High School, Bend
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