What comes to mind when you think of March?

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Dear Editor:

What comes to mind when you think of March? Blooming crocuses? The first day of spring? College basketball? How about Colorectal cancer screening? As the nation marks National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the American Cancer Society is encouraging men and women 50 and older to make getting tested for Colorectal cancer a priority.

Colorectal cancer (commonly referred to as colon cancer) is one of only two cancers that can actually be prevented through screening, which allows doctors to find polyps in the colon and remove them before they turn cancerous. Regularly scheduled Colorectal cancer screening can help save lives and help achieve the American Cancer Society's goal of creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

In addition to screening, there are healthy lifestyle behaviors individuals can adopt to reduce the risk of colon cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that adults engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on five or more days of the week; and consume a healthy diet that includes five or more servings of vegetables and fruits each day, whole grains, limited alcohol and processed and red meats, and controlled portion sizes. Smoking also increases the risk of colon cancer.

For more information on American Cancer Society Colorectal cancer screening guidelines, tips on how to eat healthy and exercise regularly, and advice for quitting smoking, contact the Society at 1-800-227-2345, or visit www.cancer.org/colon .

Sincerely,

Sharon Smaga, M.D.

Assistant Director, SIU Family Medicine Residency

Program

American Cancer Society Medical Ambassador