HARRIS, NY — In conjunction with National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Catskill Regional Medical Center announced its pledge to help increase colorectal cancer screening rates in Sullivan County by supporting the “80% by 2018” initiative, led by the American Cancer Society (ACS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, an organization co-founded by the ACS and CDC.

While colorectal cancer incidence rates have dropped 30% in the U.S. over the last 10 years among adults 50 and older, it is still the nation’s second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In 2015, 132,700 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in the U.S.

Colorectal cancer, however, is one of only a few cancers that can be prevented. With proper colorectal cancer screening, physicians can find and remove hidden growths in the colon, called “polyps,” before they become cancerous. Removing polyps can prevent cancer altogether.

Contact your gastroenterologist today to schedule a colonoscopy. For more information about Endoscopy services offered at Catskill Regional Medical Center, visit crmcny.org/services/cancer-care.