Four Saturdays in March Colorectal Cancer Awareness: Spreading the Word Five Boulder county employers and Boulder Community Hospital joined with us to educate and screen their communities during March’s National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. We gave presentations during regular work hours at employer facilities and discussed how colorectal cancer develops, risk factors, screening guidelines and options, and lifestyle changes that can improve digestive and colon health.

In addition, we offered colonoscopies to these employees during Saturdays in March – giving them the benefit of not having to take the day off to get their screenings. Approximately 25% of the employees had polyps removed, which is in line with the national average for screenings of people age 50 and older.

Fact: Polyps can be the precursor to colorectal cancer, and colonoscopy is the only screening test that can both detect and remove polyps. Colonoscopy screenings are recommended for both men and women at age 50 with no family history of colorectal cancer and earlier for those with a family history.