Colonoscopies save lives. It is a simple truth. A colonoscopy is the only test that examines the entire colon to inspect for lesions, polyps, inflammation, and cancerous growths. It truly is the gold standard of colon screening. Unfortunately, only 2 out of every 3 American adults between the ages of 50 and 75 are choosing to be screened for colon cancer.
There could be many reasons for this disparity. Studies show that the lowest rates of colon cancer screening tend to be among the impoverished and underinsured communities. A lack of colon cancer education and awareness often causes individuals to believe that colonoscopies are painful, expensive or unimportant. In truth, colonoscopies are painless, often covered by insurance at 100 percent, and have the capability to save lives (Source: NCCRT).
The National Colon Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) is seeking to change this statistic, and they are well on their way to achieving their goal. The initiative is simple: 80% by 2018. This means that by 2018, the NCCRT wants to see 80 percent of all eligible adults in the United States screened for colon cancer. Researchers predict that meeting this goal would prevent 277,000 new cases of colon cancer and 203,000 deaths from colon cancer by 2030. You can even see the impact state-by-state by clicking here.
You can do your part to help the NCCRT reach its goal. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Make your own appointment for a colonoscopy. If you are 50 years of age or older (or 45 years of age if you are African American), you should schedule a screening colonoscopy.
- Offer to be a caregiver for a parent or a friend. If you are younger than 50, volunteer to drive a family member or friend home after a colonoscopy. Everyone needs a caregiver on procedure day.
- Use some of our tools and resources on Stop Colon Cancer Now. Send a flyer or funny video to someone who needs to schedule a colonoscopy. Sometimes, a good laugh can prompt healthy decision-making.
- Call your insurance provider to gather information about your colon cancer screening benefits. It is always good to be informed about your health care plan so you are prepared for the big day.