Screening is key to colorectal cancer prevention
March 3, 2026
Leading cancer killer in adults under 50 is highly preventable
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and more than ever it is important to know the facts about the deadliest cancer in the U.S. for both men and women under 50. With screening, the disease is highly preventable.
Roper St. Francis Healthcare is offering colon cancer screenings at the Greer Transitions Clinic on March 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. for individuals who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover screening.
“Much of the population, especially the underinsured, go without screenings,” said Dr. Jorge Lagares-Garcia, a colorectal surgeon with Roper St. Francis Physician Partners Colorectal Surgery.
The most common and effective way to get screened is with a colonoscopy, which is recommended for those 45 and older, as well as for people with risk factors, including family history.
“It is so important to get screened when you can, especially if you don’t have access to healthcare,” Dr. Lagares-Garcia said.
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year.
According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the most established colorectal cancer nonprofit in the U.S.:
- Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the U.S. among men and women combined.
- About 50,000 people will die from colorectal cancer this year.
- One in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
- The average age of diagnosis for men and women is 66.
- There are more than 1.5 million colorectal cancer survivors in the U.S.
Colorectal cancer screening event
Through the Hank and Laurel Greer Colorectal Cancer Program, Roper St. Francis Healthcare is offering colon cancer screenings to individuals who do not have health insurance or whose insurance does not cover screening
