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Mary Roach, RN has been a nurse at Tufts Medical Center for more than three decades. When she was diagnosed with rectal cancer, she knew where she wanted to receive care.

MelroseWakefield Hospital’s Dr. Aarti Kakkar shares the facts about colon cancer, colonoscopies and how to reduce your risk.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, resulting in over 850,000 deaths worldwide each year, with more than 53,000 deaths related to the disease expected to occur in the US in 2023. The irony is that colon cancer is preventable, detectable and treatable.

Years ago, doctors may not have mentioned colorectal cancer prevention until a patient’s 50th birthday. But now, both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and American Cancer Society (ACS) advise people with an average risk for colorectal cancer to begin regular screening at age 45. If you’re wondering why, here’s what you need to know.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colon cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths, resulting in over 850,000 deaths worldwide each year with almost 53,000 deaths related to the disease expected to occur in the United States in 2023.

Dr. Jacob Elkon, an oncologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, was interviewed about screening for colon cancer at a younger age.