Hassan R. Hashmi, General and Colorectal Surgeon at Las Vegas Surgical Associates, shared a post on Linkedin:
“March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when detected early.
Yet many patients delay screening because they feel well or are hesitant to discuss symptoms.
Here’s what you should know:
- For average-risk individuals, screening begins at age 45
- Those with a family history, inflammatory bowel disease, or genetic syndromes may need screening earlier
- Colorectal cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults
- Most colorectal cancers begin as polyps that can be removed before they turn cancerous
- Early-stage colorectal cancer is highly curable
- If you are 45 or older, or if you have symptoms such as rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, or persistent changes in bowel habits, do not ignore them.
- Screening saves lives.
As a colorectal surgeon, I see firsthand the difference early detection makes.”
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