Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. - With March designated as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the physicians at Atlantic Gastroenterology Associates (AGA) are issuing a reminder that getting a colonoscopy is the leading way to prevent the disease. The six board certified physicians and support staff of more than 40 personnel make AGA the largest and most sophisticated gastroenterology practice in southern New Jersey. AGA physicians perform 8,000 endoscopic procedures annually, mostly at the adjacent ACCESS Surgicenter.
“Colon cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women,” says AGA founder Dr. Barry P. Kaufman. “However, deaths from colon cancer are declining primarily because of the preventive measures that come from a colonoscopy. That’s the best reason going for people over the age of 50 to have a screening colonoscopy. Caught early, colon cancer is curable and precancerous lesions (polyps) can be removed before they evolve into cancer.
One in 20 people will develop colon cancer. While the reasons are not fully understood, African Americans have the highest rate of colon cancer of any racial group in the United States, and Jews of European descent have the highest overall rate of any ethnic group.
Those groups should begin colonoscopy screening between the ages of 40 to 45, Kaufman advises. Caucasians should begin regular screenings at age 50, he adds. Family history of colon cancer or other cancers could alter the timing of the screenings, he says.
“The discovery of a polyp (precancerous lesion) during a colonoscopy, weighed in conjunction with family history, will determine the interval for a follow-up or surveillance,” explains Kaufman, who is board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. An initial negative exam with no family history of concern will generally result in a recommendation of a follow-up in seven to 10 years.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation developed The Buddy Bracelet, created to spread the word about colorectal cancer screening during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Get the Buddy Bracelet at AGA, get screened for colorectal cancer and pass the bracelet on to a family member, friend or colleague. This can create a chain reaction that could save thousands of lives.
AGA would like to recognize Jo Jo’s Restaurant in Northfield for their commitment to colon cancer prevention. They have offered a 10 percent off coupon to all AGA patients who get a colonoscopy during the month of March.
