Recognizing the Second Leading Cause of Cancer Death

Written by Dr. Lisa Golding Granado, Immediate Care Medical Walk-In of Hazlet

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, a time to recognize the fight against the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The risk increases as we age beyond 50 years and the CDC recommends colorectal cancer screenings should begin at age 50 for men and women.

Screening is also recommended for people who have inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, for those with close relatives who have had colon polyps or colon cancer, and for any person with a genetic syndrome, which causes colon polyps. Many screening tests are available: High Sensitivity Stool Testing which can be done every year; Flexible Sigmoidoscopy which can be done every 5 years, or Colonoscopy which is done every 10 years.  Ask our clinicians about which test is best for you.

Immediate Care Medical offers the High Sensitivity Stool testing for any patient who has been unable or unwilling to pursue the colonoscopy or sigmoid testing.  The symptoms that could indicate a need for screening are: anemia, blood in stool, abdominal pain or cramps, abdominal bloating and unexplained weight loss. 

Immediate Care Medical Walk-In of Hazlet consistently provides superior-quality and compassionate care by combining medical expertise with understanding and sincerity. Immediate Care Medical Walk-In offers cost-effective and convenient services while consistently focusing on putting our patients first. It is our goal to provide all patients with the unprecedented medical care experience they deserve. Immediate Care Medical Walk-In is both a walk-in clinic and primary care, including gastroenterology services, flu vaccinations, sleep apnea testing, x-ray, nerve conduction studies, allergy testing and ultrasounds.