For Your Health: Colorectal Cancer Screening (Courtesy of Aetna)

At Aetna,‡ we believe there is nothing more important than your health. That’s why we’re pleased to give you information to help you manage your health.  Read on to learn more.

Other than skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 106,680 new cases of colon cancer and 41,930 new cases of rectal cancer in 2006 in the United States. Combined, they will cause about 55,170 deaths. The older you get, the more likely you are to develop colorectal cancer.¹

If you are age 50 or older, you should be tested for colon cancer.*

• Most colon cancers occur in men and women who are 50 and older.
• Screening tests can find growths before they turn to cancer.
• If you get checked and you do have cancer, the earlier you and your doctor treat the cancer the better. It is curable if found and treated early.
• There is more than one way to get tested. You and your doctor should choose the test that’s best for you.

Learn about your colon cancer testing options

For more information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or watch the video at www.cancer.org/Colon-Link.

Questions to ask your doctor**

• I’m over 50 — should I get tested for colon cancer?
• I’ve read that there’s more than one test for colon cancer. Which one do you think is right for me?
• How is the test done? How do I prepare for it? What will happen to me, and how will it feel?
• Now that I’m 50, what other tests for cancer should I have?

Visit your personal self-service member website online!

Your secure Aetna Navigator® member website is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Use it to perform common transactions involving your Aetna medical, dental, prescription drug or flexible spending account (FSA) plans.  You can send a secure email to Aetna Member Services, access claims, who’s covered, and general health information as well as decision-support tools. Log in to the Aetna Navigator site at www.aetna.com.

Also on Aetna Navigator — online Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements! You can turn off paper EOB statements in favor of viewing them on your personal member website. View your EOB statements online and enjoy the convenience of secure electronic record keeping while you aid the environment, reduce excess mail and clear away piles of paper. Simply visit your Aetna Navigator member website at www.aetna.com and change your Personal Profile U.S. Mail options to “Turn Off Paper.”

¹Information provided by the American Cancer Society Accessed on March 8, 2006 at the following link:  http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_How_Many_People_Get_Colorectal_Cancer.asp?sitearea=

** Recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society. Speak with your doctor about being checked earlier or more often if you think you’re at a high risk for colorectal cancer.

**Recommended and provided by the American Cancer Society.

‡ Health benefits and health insurance plans are offered, underwritten or administered by

Aetna Health Inc., Aetna Health of California Inc., Aetna Health of the Carolinas Inc., Aetna Health of Illinois Inc., Aetna Health Insurance Company of New York, Aetna Health Insurance Company and/or Aetna Life Insurance Company (Aetna).  In Maryland, by Aetna Health Inc., 151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06156.

Health information programs provide general health information and are not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician or other health care professional. Information is believed to be accurate as of the production date; however, it is subject to change. For more information about Aetna plans, refer to www.aetna.com.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 12:38 pm and is filed under Health and Wellness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.