March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Colonoscopy Screenings Encouraged

March is “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.”

That’s Chickasaw County Public Health Administrator Lisa Welter, who describes some of the signs of possible colon cancer.

Welter says your age can impact when and how often you should have a colonoscopy.

Welter says early detection is critical for treatment and recovery.

At-home screenings like Cologuard can also alert you to possible colon cancer cells, but they do not provide an official diagnosis.

Data shows that about 13% of the Cologuard results can be false-positive and about 8% false-negative. Still, it’s an overall accurate test.

Contact your physician with any questions and/or to schedule your colonoscopy.