Taking care of your health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Baylor College of Medicine experts have plenty of tips to help you stay healthy. This month’s Health Hint is focused on colon cancer screening, since March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

Colon cancer is known as the silent killer because often symptoms are not present until it is too late. But the good news is that colon cancer is preventable through regular screenings. Most colon cancers start as small, benign, slow-growing polyps that can be removed before they become cancer. Usually screenings start at age 50 and continue every 10 years after that. However, if colon cancer runs in your family, screenings should be more frequent and begin sooner. Talk to your doctor to find out what is best for your personal health.”

– Dr. Waqar Qureshi, professor of medicine and chief of endoscopy