Surgeon prescribes screening to detect, defeat colorectal cancer

Published: Feb. 24, 2016, 3:52 p.m.

b'Screening and early detection are the keys to fighting colorectal cancer, says Screening and early detection are the keys to fighting colorectal cancer, says colorectal surgeon David Halleran, MD colorectal surgeon David Halleran, MD, section chief of surgery at Upstate\\u2018s community campus. "As with all cancers, and particularly colorectal cancers, the earlier you find the cancers, the better your\\xa0 survival rates,\\u201d he said, noting that the biggest risk factor is age, which is why a screening is recommended at age 50. Other risk factors include family history, smoking and obesity. Halleran describes the various tests for colorectal cancer, how often they are recommended and how the disease has changed from a killer to one that can often be cured if detected early., section chief of surgery at Upstate\\u2018s community campus. "As with all cancers, and particularly colorectal cancers, the earlier you find the cancers, the better your\\xa0 survival rates,\\u201d he said, noting that the biggest risk factor is age, which is why a screening is recommended at age 50. Other risk factors include family history, smoking and obesity. Halleran describes the various tests for colorectal cancer, how often they are recommended and how the disease has changed from a killer to one that can often be cured if detected early.'