03/06/2026
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month!
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In 2026, an estimated 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) will be diagnosed in the U.S., with 55,230 deaths expected.
Here are 10 Critical Facts:
1️⃣ Three in four (75%) colorectal cancers in adults under 50 are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
2️⃣ Nearly 50% of diagnoses under 50 occur in the 45-49 age range, where screening is now recommended. As much as 15-20% of the those below the age of 45 are diagnosed with colon cancer.
3️⃣ Over half of all cases are linked to modifiable risk factors, including obesity, poor diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
4️⃣ Roughly 440 new diagnoses and 150 deaths occur each day.
5️⃣ Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men under 50 in the U.S. Secondly cause from cancer related deaths in females.
6️⃣ Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for all ages combined.
7️⃣ Experts urge starting screenings earlier, often at age 45, to catch and remove precancerous polyps.
8️⃣ Young adults should be aware of symptoms, as early detection is crucial for survival.
9️⃣ Having a first-degree relative with colorectal polyps or cancer increases your own risk of developing the disease, sometimes by 40% or more.
🔟 If a first-degree relative was diagnosed with cancer or adenomas before age 60, guidelines recommend colonoscopy screening starting at age 40, or 10 years younger than the age of the earliest diagnosis in the family.
⬇️Here is what Dr. Dunn wants our community to know:
Regularly scheduled Colonoscopies at the appropriate intervals decreases the risk of colon cancer up to 90%.
Colonoscopies are the gold standard in the early detection of colorectal cancer.
Colon cancer is preventable, treatable, and often curable, particularly when detected early through screenings like colonoscopies.
📞 Please give our office a call at 318-322-2202 to schedule your colonoscopy with Dr. Dunn❗️
