Race still affects colorectal cancer rates in the US
December 15, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
African Americans have a 45% higher death rate from colorectal cancer than do their white counterparts. This flies in the face of the progress that doctors and researchers are making in detecting and fighting the disease.
According to a press release issued by the American Cancer Society, New report says racial gap growing in colorectal cancer, colorectal cancer is the "third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States."
It’s estimated that almost 150,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer; almost 50,000 will die. The sad thing is that most of these cancers and deaths could likely have been prevented by following cancer prevention tests.
What are the screening recommendations?
Routine screening for colorectal cancer usually begins when people reach 50 years old but this is if they have nothing in their history indicate that they may be at higher risk of developing the disease. If there are risk factors, screening should begin earlier. These risk factors include having:
- had colorectal cancer in the past
- a polyps
- ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- a family history of colon cancer
- a high-fat, low-fiber diet
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Tags: cancer blog, colorectal cancer, colorectal cancer screaning. colon cancer screaming, colorectal cancer rates
