March Is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: What Joliet Residents Need to Know About Screening

March 26, 2026

Colorectal cancer doesn’t announce itself with obvious symptoms until it’s often advanced—which is exactly why screening matters so much. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and for residents of Joliet, Wilmington, and throughout Will County, this is the perfect time to understand your screening options and take action to protect your health.

The statistics are both sobering and hopeful. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death when men and women are combined. Yet here’s what makes this disease different from many others: when detected early through screening, the five-year survival rate is approximately 90 percent. Screening doesn’t just find cancer early—it can actually prevent cancer by identifying and removing precancerous polyps before they become dangerous.

When Should You Start Screening?

Guidelines around colorectal cancer screening have evolved in recent years as rates among younger adults have increased. The American Cancer Society now recommends that people at average risk begin screening at age 45. This represents a change from the previous recommendation of age 50, reflecting concerning trends in younger-onset colorectal cancer cases.

You may need to begin screening earlier if you have certain risk factors:

• Family History: A parent, sibling, or child who has had colorectal cancer or advanced polyps increases your risk significantly. If the diagnosis occurred before age 60, your risk is even higher.
• Personal History of Polyps: If you’ve previously had adenomatous polyps removed, you’ll need more frequent surveillance.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis that cause chronic inflammation of the colon increase colorectal cancer risk.
• Genetic Syndromes: Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), and other inherited conditions substantially increase risk and often require screening beginning in the teenage years.
• Lifestyle Factors: Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, heavy alcohol use, smoking, and diets high in processed meats are all associated with increased colorectal cancer risk.

During your annual wellness visit at Primary Care Joliet, your provider can review your personal and family medical history to determine when you should begin screening and which method is most appropriate for your situation.

Understanding Your Screening Options

Colorectal cancer screening isn’t one-size-fits-all. Several effective options exist, each with different advantages.

• Colonoscopy: Often considered the gold standard, this procedure allows a gastroenterologist to examine the entire colon. If polyps are found, they can be removed during the same procedure. For people at average risk with normal findings, a colonoscopy needs to be repeated only every 10 years.
• Stool-Based Tests: These non-invasive options can be completed at home without bowel preparation. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) detects hidden blood in the stool and needs to be repeated annually. Stool DNA tests like Cologuard combine FIT with DNA markers and are repeated every three years. Positive results require follow-up colonoscopy.
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: This procedure examines only the lower third of the colon, requires less preparation, and is recommended every five years, often combined with annual FIT testing.
• CT Colonography: Sometimes called a virtual colonoscopy, this imaging test uses CT scanning to create detailed pictures of the colon. It’s repeated every five years, with positive findings requiring follow-up colonoscopy.

The best screening test is the one you’ll actually complete. If colonoscopy concerns have prevented you from getting screened, talk with your Primary Care Joliet provider about alternatives that might work better for your lifestyle.

Warning Signs That Warrant Immediate Attention

While routine screening is designed to catch problems before symptoms develop, certain warning signs should prompt you to seek medical attention regardless of your screening schedule:

• Blood in your stool or rectal bleeding
• Persistent changes in bowel habits lasting more than a few days
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chronic fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
• Abdominal cramping or pain that doesn’t go away
• A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely

These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have colorectal cancer—many other conditions can cause similar issues. But they do warrant evaluation. The medical team at Primary Care Joliet can perform initial assessments and coordinate referrals to gastroenterology specialists at Silver Cross Hospital, Ascension, or your preferred facility if further investigation is needed.

Reducing Your Risk Beyond Screening

Screening catches problems early, but lifestyle choices can actually reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer in the first place.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity increases colorectal cancer risk. The weight management and nutrition coaching services at Primary Care Joliet can help you develop a sustainable approach to reaching a healthier weight.
• Stay Physically Active: Regular physical activity is associated with lower colorectal cancer risk. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week—walking through Pilcher Park, swimming, or taking daily walks through your neighborhood.
• Eat a Plant-Forward Diet: Diets high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains appear protective against colorectal cancer. Heavy consumption of red meat and processed meats increases risk.
• Limit Alcohol: Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption is linked to increased colorectal cancer risk. Limiting intake to one drink per day for women and two for men reduces this risk.
• Don’t Smoke: Smoking increases the risk of colorectal cancer along with many other cancers. Your Primary Care Joliet provider can connect you with smoking cessation resources and support.

Why Your Primary Care Provider Is Your First Stop

Navigating colorectal cancer screening can feel overwhelming—different tests, different intervals, different recommendations based on your personal risk factors. This is exactly where having an established relationship with a primary care provider becomes invaluable.

At Primary Care Joliet, your provider knows your medical history, your family history, and your individual health concerns. They can help you understand which screening approach makes the most sense for your situation, coordinate referrals when specialist care is needed, and ensure you stay on track with appropriate screening intervals.

Dr. Yatin Shah, who founded Primary Care Joliet over 28 years ago, built the practice on the principle that comprehensive care should happen close to home. With board-certified physicians including Dr. Niraj Shah, Dr. Mustafa Aladin, Dr. Melwin Joseph, and Dr. Hafsa Zubairi, along with experienced nurse practitioners, the team provides thorough preventive care that includes cancer screening guidance.

The practice’s three convenient locations—two in Joliet and one in Wilmington—make it easy to establish care and stay current with preventive health needs. As an independent practice, Primary Care Joliet can refer you to the specialist and hospital of your choice, whether that’s Silver Cross, Ascension St. Joseph, or another facility.

Make This March Count

Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable—especially when caught early. This March, take the time to consider where you stand with screening. If you’re 45 or older and have never been screened, it’s time to have that conversation. If you’ve been putting off a recommended colonoscopy or haven’t completed your annual stool test, now is the perfect opportunity to get back on track.

Your colon health isn’t something to think about someday. It’s something to address now, while you’re feeling fine and screening can do the most good.

Schedule Your Preventive Care Visit

Ready to discuss colorectal cancer screening with a provider who knows you? Contact Primary Care Joliet to schedule your annual wellness visit or preventive care appointment. During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to review your screening status, discuss which approach is right for you, and address any other health concerns.