This year, 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Of those, one-third will die from this disease.
However, the disease is 90 percent preventable with one life-saving test, a colonoscopy.
What is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy screening works by detecting polyps, or small growths, on the lining of the colon or rectum. A doctor can then remove those polyps before they become cancerous.
Read Who Needs a Colonoscopy and When?
Who Should be Screened?
Regular screenings are recommended for anyone:
- Over the age of 50
- With a family history of colon cancer or polyps
- With any of these risk factors:
- Obesity
- Type II diabetes
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol use
How Do I Schedule a Colonoscopy Screening?
For more information or to schedule a screening, call the UPMC Hamot Center for Digestive Health at 814-877-7200 or complete our online form.
Learn more about health screenings at UPMC Hamot.
