CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
To the editor:

March marks the seventh year of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - a month dedicated to raising awareness that this third-leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States is largely preventable.

In 2006, the Society estimates that more than 106,680 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer (commonly referred to as "colon cancer") and more than 55,170 will die, a number that could be cut in half if Americans followed American Cancer Society screening recommendations. Perhaps the least understood and most compelling aspect of colon cancer is that it can be stopped before it starts if pre-cancerous polyps are found and removed during early detection testing - thereby avoiding the disease completely.

It's important to go in for testing and not wait for symptoms, which may not appear until the disease has progressed into more advanced stages. Despite overwhelming evidence that screening tests can save lives, many Americans still are not following recommendations from the American Cancer Society and others for early detection.

The American Cancer Society's guidelines for the early detection of colorectal cancer: Beginning at age 50, both men and women at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should follow one of these five testing schedules:

+ Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT);

+ Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years;

Yearly FOBT or FIT plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years;

+ Double-contrast barium enema every five years;

+ Colonoscopy every 10 years.

Asking about colon cancer testing isn't always easy. The American Cancer Society can help. Call the American Cancer Society anytime, day or night, at 1-800-ACS-2345. They can tell you more about the tests, help you talk to your doctor, or just listen to your concerns.

This March, talk to your doctor about colon cancer testing and encourage loved ones to get tested too. Get the test. Get the polyp. Get the cure.
                        - Dr. William Marasco
            President of the Cape Cod and
        Islands Board of Directors for the
              American Cancer Society and
Radiologist at Cape Diagnotic Imaging