Campaign Launched to Raise Awareness of Link Between IBD and Colorectal Cancer

NEW YORK -- In the U.S., 147,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed, and more than 57,000 people die from the disease, annually. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is raising awareness of the disease through an educational campaign called "Know Your ABCCs." The goal is to highlight the increased risk of colorectal cancer among patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Annual screenings allow for early detection, and some experts say certain anti-inflammatory drugs like Asacol®, Pentasa®, and Azulfidine® may  lower the risk for developing colon cancer.

David Rubin, assistant professor of medicine, section of gastroenterology, University of Chicago, says, "For the people who don't have inflammatory bowel disease, we recommend they start screening at age 50. But if you have chronic inflammation of your large bowel, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you should be screened every 1-2 years once you've had those diseases for 8-10 years."

Source: The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

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