Colorectal cancer: Deadly but highly preventable

When and how often you should get screened

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month – it’s one of the most prevalent and deadly forms of cancer in the U.S., with more than 135,000 new cases and 50,000 deaths expected from the disease in 2018.

But colorectal cancer is also highly preventable – in fact, timely screening could potentially save more than half of those 50,000 lives, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.  One in three people in the U.S. aren’t screened as recommended, and there’s a 90 percent reduction in cancer risk following colonoscopy and polypectomy.

Dr. Walter Coyle, head of gastroenterology at Scripps Clinic, addresses key questions about colorectal cancer in this interview on Good Morning San Diego.