Munson Healthcare Urges Northern Michigan Residents to Get Colorectal Cancer Screenings

More than half of colorectal cancer cases in northern Michigan are diagnosed late, according to Munson Healthcare, which issued a community reminder March 11 urging residents to prioritize screening during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Munson Medical Center colorectal surgeon Dr. Edward Hagen made the case for colonoscopy as the frontline tool. "Patients today have multiple avenues for colorectal cancer screening, from stool-based tests to imaging options," he said. "However, a colonoscopy is still the most effective method because it allows us to both detect and remove precancerous or early cancerous polyps during the same procedure. For those with normal findings, the test usually only needs to be repeated every 10 years."

The stakes behind that recommendation are substantial. According to the American Journal of Managed Care, colonoscopy screening reduces colorectal cancer incidence by roughly 40 percent and cancer-related mortality by nearly 60 percent. Munson Medical Center, where Hagen practices alongside surgeons Dr. Shruti Sevak and Dr. Richard Tooley, holds accreditation through the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer, a designation that reflects the program's specialized rigor.

Munson is directing its message primarily at adults 45 and older, the threshold the American Cancer Society sets for average-risk individuals, and at anyone with a family history of colon or rectal cancer. Those with higher risk factors should begin screening earlier and return more frequently.

Lifestyle choices compound the baseline risk. The American Cancer Society links smoking to about 12 percent of colorectal cancer deaths. Alcohol raises risk by 9 percent even for light drinkers, and by up to 40 percent for people who drink heavily every day.

The local urgency aligns with a broader national picture. Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed March 2026 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Michigan on March 1, noting that more than 150,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with the disease this year and that more than 50,000 will die from it. Her proclamation also highlighted that colorectal cancer incidence among younger adults has doubled since the 1990s and that it is now the leading cause of cancer deaths among men under 50 in the United States. The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable has set a national target of 80 percent timely screening rates in every community.

Munson encourages residents to speak with their primary care provider about which screening option is right for them. More information and help finding a doctor are available at munsonhealthcare.org, by calling 231-935-5000, or through the Ask-a-Nurse line at 231-935-0951. Munson Medical Center is located at 1105 Sixth St. in Traverse City.