The statistics are alarming: Nearly 1 in 17 men will face colon cancer in their lifetime.

And while there’s no cure yet, early detection greatly increases your chances of successful treatment and recovery.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States.   

And there’s additional reason for concern if you are an African American male living in Tarrant County, where you are twice as likely to die from colon cancer as a Caucasian resident.  That’s why it is recommended African American men get regular colorectal cancer screenings beginning at age 45. In general, men and women are encouraged to begin screening at 50.  

About ten percent of colon cancers run in families. Talk to your doctor if you or family members have had colon cancer before the age of 50. You may need to begin screening earlier or get tested more frequently.  

Many insurance plans and Medicare help pay for colorectal cancer screening tests. Talk to your physician about screening or for more information, call 817-288-9800.

Links:

Information on colon cancer symptoms

What is colon cancer?

NCI colon cancer topics homepage