Adams County Health Officials Urge Residents to Screen for Colorectal Cancer

The Adams County Senior Council, drawing on information from the Adams County Health Department, issued a community advisory this month urging residents to get screened for colorectal cancer, calling it one of the most preventable cancers when routine testing is followed. The advisory coincided with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, according to OhioHealth. Yet Dr. Stephanie Dunkle-Blatter, a surgeon with OhioHealth Physician Group in Athens, says the disease does not have to reach that stage. "It's completely preventable," Dunkle-Blatter said. "It starts as a little polyp, and with colonoscopy, we can remove these polyps before they become cancer."

The Adams County advisory stresses that routine screening can find precancerous polyps early, long before symptoms appear, and greatly reduce the risk of serious illness. The challenge is that most people have no warning before a diagnosis. "Medical experts emphasize that many people feel completely healthy before screening, which is why getting tested on time is so important," the advisory states.

Current guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society recommend that most adults receive colorectal cancer screening between ages 45 and 75. Those with a family history of colorectal cancer or other risk factors should speak with a provider about starting even earlier.

Two primary screening methods are available. A colonoscopy uses a tube with a camera to examine the inside of the colon and rectum and can serve as both a screening and diagnostic tool. Stool-based tests, which include the fecal occult blood test, fecal immunochemical test, and stool DNA test, are less invasive and analyze a stool sample for blood and sometimes DNA.

Dunkle-Blatter urges anyone over 45 who has not yet screened, or who notices symptoms, to speak with a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms to watch for include abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, blood on or in bowel movements, constipation or diarrhea, a persistent feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, unexplained fatigue or weakness, and unexplained weight loss. "While it might feel difficult to discuss bowel issues, raising awareness can lessen stigma and save lives," the OhioHealth advisory notes.

Ohio data from 2021 show colorectal cancer incidence rates have declined overall, with men experiencing higher rates than women. Statewide, overall cancer mortality has also trended downward, though Black males continue to experience higher mortality rates than white males, according to the Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System.

The Adams County Senior Council's advisory lists several steps residents can take beyond screening: maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber, limiting red and processed meats, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol use.

The People's Defender, located at 206 N. Pleasant Street in West Union, published the advisory and can be reached at 937-544-2391. Residents seeking guidance on local screening options should contact the Adams County Health Department directly.