INDIANAPOLIS — Friday kicked off National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It's estimated more than 140,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with this cancer.
Colorectal cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. The American Cancer Society says that more than 51,000 people will die this year due to this cancer.
And a local survivor has a message for all Hoosiers.
"My first reaction is if you have a colon, you're at risk," Andrea Bauer, colorectal cancer survivor, said.
The 35-year-old went to get kidney stones removed and came to find out that things were much worse - she had colon cancer.
Studies are showing there is a 51 percent increase in colorectal cancer in people under 50 since 1994. The Chief Medical Officer from the American Cancer Society says it's likely due to the complex relationship between cancer and obesity - an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.
"You're never too young for colorectal cancer, get your colonoscopies because it can save your life," Bauer said.
IU Health nurses showed RTV6 the tools used for colonoscopies (above). Oncologists say they are critical.
"You get a pretty good look inside of the colon, it helps them get close up on like a polyp or whatever, any abnormalities that they can see in the colon will help them out," an IU Health nurse said.
the recommended age to begin getting colonoscopies starts between 45 and 50 years also. This is also something to be cautious about if it's in your family history.
"We remove polyps that are precancerous polyps and then they don't turn into cancer overtime," Dr. Paul Helft, an IU Health Oncologist, said. "Also in general we will find patients at an earlier stage of the disease when the cancer is more curable."
Bauer is now cancer free and says that these measure are not only for you but for your family.
"If you don't do it for you, do it for someone else that you love and care about."
Here’s the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer according to the American Cancer Society:
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that's not relieved by having one
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in the stool, which may make the stool look dark
- Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
