A message for Colon Cancer Awareness Month

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, an important time to highlight one of the most common and preventable cancers affecting adults. 

According to the National Cancer Institute, colon and rectal cancers represent roughly 7.6% of all new cancer cases nationwide and 8.6% of cancer deaths.¹ Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with 154,270 new cases and 52,900 deaths in 2025.¹

Unfortunately, CRC still has a five-year relative survival of 65.4%.¹ However, if the cancer is localized at diagnosis, five-year survival is greater than 90%. We know that many U.S. adults still do not receive appropriate screening.⁵ Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2016, 25.6% of eligible adults had never undergone screening, and in 2018, nearly one-third were not up to date on screening.⁶

At Northside Hospital, we encourage patients and providers to use March as a prompt to talk about risk, screening options and the power of early detection.

What is colorectal cancer, and who is most at risk?

Colon and rectal cancers usually begin as small growths, called polyps, in the bowel lining. Over time, as polyps grow, they can become cancerous.

Risk increases with age, particularly after 45, but CRC rates have increased in younger adults in recent decades.² Research shows that among adults ages 40 to 49, the incidence of colorectal cancer increased by almost 15% from 2000-2002 to 2014-2016.³ Today, about 10.5% of new colorectal cancer cases occur before age 50.⁴

Rates of CRC are highest in Black adults and American Indian and Alaskan Native adults, and higher in men.¹ Additional risk factors include:

• A family history of advanced polyps or CRC
• Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
• Obesity⁷
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol use⁸
• Diets high in red or processed meats⁹
• Certain inherited genetic syndromes

Why is screening important — and when should it start?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded in 2021 that screening for CRC has a substantial net benefit for adults aged 50 to 75 years and a moderate net benefit for adults aged 45 to 49.²

Screening is essential because CRC often causes no symptoms in its early stages. Detecting and removing precancerous polyps can prevent cancer entirely. For people at average risk, screening should begin at age 45, a change supported by major medical societies due to rising rates of cancer in younger adults.

Those with higher risk, such as family history, inflammatory bowel disease or certain genetic conditions, may need to start earlier and screen more frequently.

What screening options are available?

Several effective screening tools exist, and the best test is the one that actually gets done on time. Options include:

• Colonoscopy (every 10 years if normal): Examines the entire colon and allows for polyp removal during the same procedure.
• Stool-based tests, such as fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) or stool DNA tests (performed annually or every one to three years, depending on the test).
• CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every five years in selected patients.

Choosing the right test depends on individual risk factors, personal preferences, access to care and discussion with a healthcare provider.

What should patients expect during a colonoscopy or other tests?

A colonoscopy requires bowel preparation the day before to clean the colon. The procedure itself is typically performed under sedation and lasts about 30 minutes. Most patients are comfortable and remember little afterward. If polyps are found, they can often be removed immediately, reducing future cancer risk.¹⁰ Recovery is usually quick, and patients return to normal activities the next day.

For stool-based tests, patients collect a stool sample at home and return it as instructed. If positive, colonoscopy is the next step.

Things to know about colonoscopy

• It can prevent cancer. Polyps can often be removed during the same procedure.
• Most patients are comfortable. Sedation is commonly used; many patients remember little afterward.
• It’s usually brief. The procedure often takes about 30 minutes.
• Preparation matters most. A clean colon improves detection and reduces the chance of repeat testing.
• Benefits last years. A normal exam often means you won’t need another for up to 10 years for average-risk patients.^2,11

How can lifestyle changes reduce risk?

Lifestyle plays a meaningful role in colorectal cancer prevention. Regular physical activity,¹² maintaining a healthy weight; eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fiber; and limiting red and processed meats can all reduce risk.⁹ Avoiding tobacco and moderating alcohol intake are also important protective measures.^7,9,12

How does early detection affect outcomes?

When colorectal cancer is found early, treatment is often less invasive, with better outcomes. Early-stage disease may be treated with surgery alone, while advanced disease typically requires chemotherapy and other therapies. When cancer is still localized at diagnosis, five-year survival rates exceed 90%,¹ underscoring the life-saving value of screening.

New advances in care and prevention

Advances in minimally invasive surgery, targeted therapies and immunotherapy have improved outcomes for many patients. Enhanced recovery protocols allow faster recovery, and improved imaging helps tailor treatment plans more precisely. In addition, blood-based tumor DNA (“ctDNA”) testing is emerging as a tool to better estimate recurrence risk after surgery and potentially tailor follow-up and treatment intensity.^13,14

The role of genetic testing

Genetic testing is transforming colorectal cancer prevention. Identifying inherited conditions such as Lynch syndrome allows at-risk individuals and families to begin earlier, more frequent screening and take preventive steps. Even patients without a strong family history may benefit from genetic counseling in certain situations.

The bottom line: Colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and early detection saves lives. Colon Cancer Awareness Month is an ideal time for patients and providers to talk openly about screening, risk factors and prevention.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLON CANCER CARE AT NORTHSIDE.

FIND A CANCER PROVIDER.

1. National Cancer Institute. “Cancer Stat Facts: Colorectal Cancer.” Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Updated 2025. Accessed February 9, 2026. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html.
2. Davidson, K. W., M. J. Barry, C. M. Mangione, et al.; US Preventive Services Task Force. “Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.” JAMA 325, no. 19 (2021): 1965–77. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.6238.
3. Montminy, E. M., M. Zhou, L. Maniscalco, et al. “Contributions of Adenocarcinoma and Carcinoid Tumors to Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Incidence Rates in the United States.” Annals of Internal Medicine 174, no. 2 (2021): 157–66. https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-0068.
4. Siegel, R. L., K. D. Miller, S. A. Fedewa, et al. “Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2017.” CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 67, no. 3 (2017): 177–93. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21395.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Quick Facts: Colorectal Cancer Screening in U.S.: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System—2016.” Accessed March 30, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/pdf/QuickFacts-BRFSS-2016-CRC-Screening-508.pdf.
6. Joseph, D. A., J. B. King, N. F. Dowling, C. C. Thomas, and L. C. Richardson. “Vital Signs: Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Use—United States, 2018.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 69, no. 10 (2020): 253–59. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6910a1.
7. Liu, P. H., K. Wu, K. Ng, et al. “Association of Obesity with Risk of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer among Women.” JAMA Oncology 5, no. 1 (2018): 37–44. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.4280.
8. Lin, J. S., L. A. Perdue, N. B. Henrikson, S. I. Bean, and P. R. Blasi. Screening for Colorectal Cancer: An Evidence Update for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Evidence Synthesis No. 202. AHRQ Publication No. 20-05271-EF-1. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2021.
9. Bouvard, V., D. Loomis, K. Z. Guyton, et al. “Carcinogenicity of Consumption of Red and Processed Meat.” Lancet Oncology 16, no. 16 (2015): 1599–1600. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00444-1.
10. Pan, J., L. Xin, Y. F. Ma, et al. “Colonoscopy Reduces Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Patients with Non-Malignant Findings: A Meta-Analysis.” American Journal of Gastroenterology 111, no. 3 (2016): 355–65. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2015.418.
11. Wolf, A. M. D., E. T. H. Fontham, T. R. Church, et al. “Colorectal Cancer Screening for Average-Risk Adults: 2018 Guideline Update from the American Cancer Society.” CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 68, no. 4 (2018): 250–81. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21457.
12. Boyle, T., T. Keegel, F. Bull, et al. “Physical Activity and Risks of Proximal and Distal Colon Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute 104, no. 20 (2012): 1548–61. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djs354.
13. Nakamura, Y., J. Wantanabe, N. Akazawa, et al. “ctDNA-Based Molecular Residual Disease and Survival in Resectable Colorectal Cancer (GALAXY Study).” Nature Medicine 30, no. 11 (2024): 3272–83. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03254-6.
14. Tie, J., J. Cohen, K. Lahouel, et al. “Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis Guiding Adjuvant Therapy in Stage II Colon Cancer.” New England Journal of Medicine 386 (2022): 2261–72. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2200075.