Regular screenings recommended for those age 50 and older
Observed by New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers
PARSIPPANY, NJ (March 7, 2012) – March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month – a four-week period dedicated to increasing public recognition of a disease that the Colon Cancer Alliance projects will claim the lives of more than 50,000 Americans during 2012. For its part, the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (NJAASC) – which has many member centers that conduct screenings and focus on general gastrointestinal issues – is actively promoting colon cancer awareness.
On a state level, based on information supplied by the national Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, 64 percent of all lesion-removal colonoscopies that take place in New Jersey are performed in ambulatory surgery centers.
“Colon cancer is a rising health issue impacting both men and women,” says NJAASC President Larry Trenk. “It’s vital that individuals in higher risk groups be screened for the disease, and many of our member centers across the state offer the potentially life-saving test.”
According to an independent study recently released by the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, colon screenings may reduce colorectal cancer mortality by as much as 53 percent. Colonoscopies are among the most effective tools for the detection and diagnosis of colon cancer, and these procedures are frequently performed in ambulatory surgery centers.
Particularly for those age 50 and older, regular screenings are a powerful predictor of long-term health. These tests can detect pre-cancerous polyps in their early stages, before they become malignant, and when they’re most easily treated.
Along with providing colon cancer screening tests, many ambulatory surgery centers can be excellent information sources related to preparedness, prevention, and risk factors.
About NJSAAC
The NJAASC is an incorporated, non-profit organization founded in 1992 by owners of ambulatory surgery centers. Its mission is to promote and advance the efforts of New Jersey’s ambulatory surgery centers in the delivery of optimum patient care in a cost-effective manner. Meetings are attended by owners, administrators, billers and coders, physicians, nursing staff and others with an interest in ambulatory surgery. The activities of the NJAASC are managed by a board of directors elected by membership.
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NJAASC 