ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The American Cancer Society is visiting hospitals across the nation to promote colon cancer awareness.
Monday, health leaders in our community held a round-table discussion at carillon Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The goal is to make people aware of the dangers of putting off a colon cancer screening.
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Doctors say, adults 50 years and older should get screened. If you're not fond of a colonoscopy, doctors told us there are three different screenings a patient can undergo to detect cancerous cells.
"The worst test is the one that's not done," said Robert Noriega, the communication manager for the American Cancer Society. "So, it is a concern for us because 140,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with colorectal cancer. And, it's totally preventable."
The American Cancer Society's vision is to reach an 80-percent colorectal cancer screening rate by 2018.