March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Thanks to improvements in prevention, early detection and treatment, more than a million people in the U.S. count themselves as survivors of colorectal cancer.

Most people with early colon or rectal cancer have no symptoms of the disease. Symptoms usually appear only with more advanced disease. From the time the first abnormal cells start to grow into polyps, it usually takes 10 to 15 years for the polyps to develop into colorectal cancer. This is why getting the recommended screening tests before any symptoms develop is so important.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), fewer African Americans are dying from colorectal cancer than in previous years. However, African Americans still have the highest death rate of any other racial or ethnic group for most cancers, including colorectal cancer. An estimated 7,020 deaths from colorectal cancer are expected to occur among African Americans in 2012. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in both African American men and women.

The causes are complex and are thought to reflect social and economic disparities more than biological differences associated with race. These include inequities in work, wealth, income, education, housing and overall standard of living, as well as barriers to high-quality cancer prevention, early detection and treatment services.

Chances of colon cancer increase with age. Diabetes, obesity, smoking and heavy use of alcohol also increase the risk. Screenings should start at age 50 and continue every 10 years after that, as long as results are normal. You should start earlier at the age of 40 if you have a family history.