Washington, D.C. Gastroenterologists Band Together to Fight Colon Cancer

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 50 gastroenterologists in the Washington, D.C. area have joined forces to form StopColonCancerNow.com/MetroDC in a concerted effort to decrease the number of colon cancer cases in the D.C. area.

“We want to help everyone in our community realize the importance of a colonoscopy screening”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Greater Washington, D.C. Metro area has the highest rate of colon cancer deaths in the United States. StopColonCancerNow.com/MetroDC hopes to change that. Colon cancer is one of the few cancers that is preventable through screenings.

“We want to help everyone in our community realize the importance of a colonoscopy screening,” said Dr. Arnold Levy, President/CEO of Capital Digestive Care, and a member of StopColonCancerNow.com/MetroDC. “The procedure is painless, it doesn’t take long and it can actually prevent you from developing colon cancer. If you’re of age for the procedure – why would you wait? It’s worth the peace of mind and could save your life.”

Those who are at a higher risk for colon cancer include: anyone over the age of 50, African-Americans who are 45 years of age and over and those who have a family history of polyps or colon cancer.

A colonoscopy allows doctors to find and remove precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer, making a colonoscopy the only test that allows both diagnosis and treatment at the same time. A colonoscopy can also find cancer at its earliest stage, when treatment works best.

For more information and to schedule a colonoscopy, visit www.StopColonCancerNow.com/MetroDC.

About StopColonCancerNow.com/MetroDC

StopColonCancerNow.com/MetroDC is a community of more than 50 physicians who have joined forces to promote education and awareness about colon cancer screening and prevention. StopColonCancerNow.com is powered by AmSurg. AmSurg, provider of approximately one in every 10 colonoscopies in the United States, launched the campaign in 2009 as part of its commitment to provide the highest level of care and information to people at risk for colon cancer. For more information on colon cancer and the importance of screening, visit www.StopColonCancerNow.com.