=a MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Department of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology SAVE A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER FROM COLON CANCER FACTS: — Colon cancer is the 4 leading cause of cancer in the United States (1/20 of the population or 5 percent will get colon cancer). — Colon cancer affects men and women equally; the occurrence among different ethnic backgrounds differs very little — Colon cancer is the 2" leading cause of death from cancer. — Almost all colon cancers arise on the surface of benign polyps called adenomas; not all adenomas become cancers. ~ 25 percent of patients at age 50 have a benign pre-cancerous polyp. ~ REMOVING POLYPS PREVENTS CANCER! FACTS ABOUT COLONOSCOPY: = Colonoscopy is the most accurate way to examine the entire colon. — Sigmoidoscopy examines only about 1/3 of the colon. — Colon cancer can occur anywhere in the colon, and more than 40 percent occurs beyond the reach of the sigmoidoscope. ~ Almost all polyps found during colonoscopy can be removed at that time. WHAT SHOULD | DO? = Talk to your primary care physician about colon cancer prevention — Ifa colonscopy is recommended and you wish for it to be done at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, please call 202-444-8541, Stanley B. Benjamin, MD, FACP Aline Charabaty Pishvaian, MD ‘Thomas Loughney, MD kathy P. Bull-Henry, MD. Nadim G. Haddad, MD Mark ¢. Mattar, MD John E. Carroll, MD James H. Lewis, MD, FACP Caren S. Palese, MD Jill P, Smith, MD