Woman's Doctor: African Americans at higher risk for colorectal cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer disproportionately affects African American men and women. In fact, African Americans are about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups.
Mercy Medical Center Dr. Jeffery Nelson says access to care is a factor and screening rates among African Americans are extremely low.
"Screening rates need to increase. There needs to be continued efforts to navigate patients through the system to help them get screened and get the information out, to increase understanding about what screening is available, what it means, what the screening intervals mean, and what they should be," Nelson said.
Nelson says people at average risk should start screening at age 45.
Those at higher risk should speak with their doctor.