March is colorectal cancer awareness month! Colorectal cancer (cancer of the large intestines and rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States accounting for approximately 53,000 deaths in 2007 according to the American Cancer Society. Symptoms include: pain in the belly, blood in your stool or very dark stools, a change in your bowel habits (such as more frequent stools or a feeling that your bowels are not emptying completely), fatigue and in rare cases, unexplained weight loss. If you undergo regular screening for this cancer it can be cured and even prevented. What test should you have? The screening test which all adults over 40 years old should undergo are: yearly test for microscopic blood in the stools (blood you can not see); digital rectal examination and most importantly after the age of 50, colonoscopy, where the entire colon is visibly examined with an instrument called a colonoscope. Things that you can do to prevent colorectal cancer are: avoid eating foods high in protein and fats, particularly animal fats; do not smoke (smokers have a higher incidence of colorectal cancer); increase your physical activity if needed; keeping your weight down and avoiding alcohol use. With these simple steps this condition can be eliminated. Remember, “blessed are they which do His commandments.”