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Click here for a special Computer Corner. Please forward your questions to Chris Puszynski: Chris@Concare.com. Can We Stop Being Embarrassed? Colorectal cancer has long been a disease cloaked in embarrassment and misunderstandings. In a large part because of that, colorectal cancer has become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States for both men and women combined . Despite the fact that it is highly preventable , approximately 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in 2004 and more than 56,000 people died from the disease. It surpasses both breast and prostate cancer in mortality, second only to lung cancer in numbers of cancer deaths. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and it's probable that you know someone who has been affected by a diagnosis of some form of colorectal disease. So maybe learning a few facts about this disease will help you or someone you love: Many people believe colorectal cancer is a disease of older, white men. Fact: An almost equal number of men and women are diagnosed each year, and death rates from colorectal cancer are higher among African Americans than any other population group in the U.S. Another myth is that colorectal cancer is usually fatal. Fact: The disease is usually curable when detected early. Regular screening tests can not only detect colorectal cancer in its most treatable stages, but also prevent it by identifying pre-cancerous polyps for removal. Yet another common belief is that s creening tests are necessary only for individuals who have symptoms. Fact: Colorectal cancer often develops with no symptoms, and about 75% of all new cases occur in individuals with no known risk factors for the disease. We can stop being embarrassed and start being better informed by visiting It's preventable, detectable, and curable – what's embarrassing about that? Diane Forsythe
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