03/09/2026
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is now the #๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ #๐ฎ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฌ. Even more concerningโ1 in 5 diagnoses now occurs in people under 55, and rates are rising fastest in those in their 20s and 30s.
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐.
โข Caught early: ~90% 5-year survival
โข Caught late: ~14% 5-year survival
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ธ:
โข Move your body regularly
โข Eat more fiber, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
โข Limit red and processed meats
โข Maintain a healthy weight
โข Donโt smoke
โข Limit alcohol
โข Keep vitamin D levels healthy
Screening starts at age 45 (earlier if you have risk factors or family history).
๐๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐๐บ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐บ๐:
Persistent bowel changes, blood in stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or ongoing fatigue.
Bottom line: Lifestyle matters, but screening and early detection save lives.