GREENVILLE --March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the American Cancer Society is encouraging Americans to get lifesaving screening tests that have been proven to reduce the risk of the third-leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.

According to a press release from the South Atlantic Division of the ACS, more than 2,170 South Carolina residents will be diagnosed with and more than 730 residents will die from colon cancer.

According to the recent Annual Report to the Nation on cancer, from 1998 to 2005, colon cancer incidence dropped by 2.8 percent per year in men and 2.2 percent per year in women. Death rates have fallen by 4.3 percent in both men and women from 2002 to 2005.

The ACS recommends routine screening for men and women starting at age 50 and earlier testing for those at higher-than-average risk. Regularly scheduled screening can not only detect cancer at an early and more treatable stage -- it can also prevent cancer from developing by removing precancerous polyps before they become cancerous.

Despite evidence showing colorectal screening can save lives and the availability of several options for patients, only about half of the U.S. population aged 50 and older has been tested recently for colon cancer.

"Colon cancer is one of the only cancers that can be prevented through regular testing" said Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate and colorectal cancer for the ACS. "The declines in incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer can be attributed to prevention and early detection of the disease through screening, as well as increasingly effective treatment."

In March 2008, the ACS, along with the American College of Radiology and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, released the first-ever consensus guidelines for colorectal screening. The guidelines now include two new tests -- stool DNA and CT colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy. The guidelines also indicate a preference for screening tests that can not only detect cancer early but also detect precancerous polyps before they turn cancerous.

Studies have shown that insurance status influences survival among those diagnosed with colon cancer -- individuals with private insurance who are diagnosed with stage II colon cancer have better survival outcomes than individuals who are uninsured or receive Medicaid and are diagnosed with stage I.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the advocacy affiliate of the ACS, is working to pass the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act. This legislation establishes a program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that would provide colon cancer screenings, treatment and follow-up services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured men and women ages 50 to 64. Additionally, this program will support training for health providers, and public information and education programs for the prevention and detection of colon cancer and promoting the benefits of cancer screenings.

A number of lifestyle factors impact colon cancer risk. Studies indicate that men and women who are overweight are more likely to develop and die from colon cancer, and a diet high in red or processed meat is known to increase risk of developing the disease. Studies also show that high levels of physical activity may cut the risk of colon cancer in half. The ACS recommends engaging in moderate activity for at least 30 minutes on five or more days per week and substituting high consumption of red and processed meat with a healthy diet rich in plant sources, whole grains, and five or more servings of fruits and vegetables.

Age remains the most important risk factor for colon cancer. Risk increases with age, with more than 90 percent of cases diagnosed in individuals aged 50 and older. A personal or family history of the disease also increases risk.

For more information, call toll-free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

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