March is colorectal cancer month

Here is an editorial published in the Marion Star this week.

Everyone can be a hero

There are many ways to become a hero, but the most direct route to hero status is to save a life.

You might think that most people never have the opportunity to save a life. You would be wrong.

All of us have the ability to save a life and it is ridiculously easy.
When you start to get close to your 50th birthday start asking your doctor if you should schedule a colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy can save your life.

During the procedure, pre-cancerous polyps can be identified and removed, thus cancer is prevented and a life is saved.

Colon cancer is the third most prevalent cancer in the United States in both men and women and it is the most preventable.

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 108,070 new cases of colon cancer and 40,740 new cases of rectal cancer in 2008 in the United States. Combined, they will cause about 49,960 deaths.

That is an alarming number for a cancer that can be so easy to detect and prevent.

In addition to screening for the disease you can lower your risk by eating right and exercising.

It is important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods and to limit intake of high-fat foods.

You should exercise at least for at least 30 minutes, five or more days per week.

It's all very simple and it's all live saving.

Are you a hero, just because the life you saved was your own? We think so. The longer you hang around the better your chances are getting the opportunity to save someone else's life.