March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy joins with others healthcare advocates to promote the timely prevention, detection, and treatment of colorectal cancer.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance all agree in recommending colorectal screening to start at age 45 for those at average risk, or earlier for those with risk factors.
It’s important to know that the most common symptom of colorectal cancer is this: no symptom at all. This is why age-based screening continues to be a powerful tool for increasing survival rates for this form of cancer. In fact, these cancers are highly treatable if found early.
Healthcare efforts in screening, providing treatment, and researching a cure form an essential triad that together can turn the tide on colorectal cancers. Unfortunately, with how the current trajectory is going, colorectal cancers will be the number one fatal cancer in adults ages 20-49 by the year 2030.
There are hurdles on each step of the pathway, starting with screenings for this type of cancer. Even after detection of colorectal cancers, some patients have obstacles in obtaining treatment. For some patients, localized treatment such as surgery is the best course. But for others, systemic treatments (such as chemotherapy, targeted drug treatment, or immunotherapy) might be necessary.
BioPlus stands ready to partner with you and your patients in accessing and completing a plan of care for those with colorectal cancers.