Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Draft content for the family to review and personalize.

Costas's family hopes his story helps someone else catch colorectal cancer early, when it is most treatable.

Know the facts

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States and a leading cause of cancer death.
It is increasingly being diagnosed in people under 50.
When it is found early, before it has spread, it is often curable.

Get screened

Most medical organizations in the U.S. now recommend that people at average risk start screening at age 45. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or other risk factors, talk to your doctor about screening earlier.

Screening options include:

Colonoscopy: typically every 10 years if results are normal.
Stool-based tests you can do at home, such as a yearly FIT test or a stool DNA test every 1 to 3 years. A positive result needs a follow-up colonoscopy.

The best test is the one that actually gets done. Ask your doctor which is right for you.

Don't ignore symptoms

See a doctor if you notice any of these, at any age:

Blood in or on your stool, or rectal bleeding
A change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days
Abdominal pain or cramping that doesn't go away
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue or weakness, which can be caused by anemia

These symptoms are often caused by something other than cancer, but only a doctor can tell you that.

Learn more and help

This page is for awareness only and is not medical advice.