Atlanta VAHCS is Raising Awareness about Colorectal Cancer Month
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the Atlanta VA Health Care System is raising awareness that early detection is key to treating colorectal cancers.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and each year, VA diagnoses approximately 4,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in Veterans. The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age and screening is recommended for all adults aged 45 to 75. This cancer typically begins as an asymptomatic growth (polyp) on the lining of the colon or rectum. Screening is crucial to detect polyps early before they have a chance to become cancer, or to detect cancer at an early stage when treatment is most effective.
Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is a screening done at home to check for blood in stool that you can't see, which can be due to polyps or cancer. VA’s Mailed FIT Program delivers FIT kits to the homes of Veterans eligible for CRC screening, meaning Veterans have access to high quality CRC screening without leaving their home.
“Colorectal cancer screening is one of the best ways for preventing colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Robert Norvel, Atlanta VAHCS Chief of Staff. “With regular screening, most polyps can be found and removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer.”