To help highlight National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Northeast Georgia Medical Center will be offering two seminars that will look at prevention, screening guidelines and treatment options for colorectal cancer.
The first seminar will be on Thursday, March 17, in NGMC Braselton's Education Center. And there will also be another seminar on Tuesday, March 29 in NGMC Gainesville's Walters Auditorium.
Colon cancer is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States according to the American College of Gastroenterology, yet unlike other cancer screenings which can only detect a problem, colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy can prevent colorectal cancer by removing precancerous polyps during the exam.
Oncology Clinician at NGMC, Angie Caton, says however that screening needs to be more of a priority for Americans.
"There are one in three adults that are not even getting tested which is why we are trying to make a big push on education. Also, nine times out of ten, colon cancer is beatable if caught early."
She says the free seminars offered by NGMC will provide possible life saving education on the screening process for colon cancer as well as a wealth of information on the disease as a whole.
"I think the seminars could be for anybody, because sometimes loved ones and friends are the ones encouraging those impacted, but colon cancer is most prevalent in people over 50 years old which is the group we are targeting to attend these presentations."
The seminars will feature a physician panel, including a gastroenterologist, surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist, will answer questions about prevention, screening guidelines and treatment options for colorectal cancer.
Registration and a free light supper start at 6 p.m., with the presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. The seminar is free, but registration is required. For more information or to register, visit the NGHS website.
