The American Cancer Society recommends people 50 and older get a colonoscopy every 10 years.

Facts about colonrectal cancer:

• It is the nation’s second biggest cancer killer.
• When it is discovered and treated early, 90 percent of patients survive for five years or more.
• People often don’t get the screenings they need because of privacy and comfort concerns.

The St. Mary’s Endoscopy Center has a 94.3 percent overall patient satisfaction rating—one of the best rated departments in the Health Center. Patients said they were 100 percent satisfied with the center’s friendly staff members. Those staff members trust St. Mary's for their own care, too.

Endoscopy nurse Laurie Wallace decided to get a colonoscopy at age 49. Her screening found a precancerous polyp that could have developed into colorectal cancer had doctors not removed it.

“I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t want to have a colonoscopy,’” Wallace said. “But I did it, and it was a good thing I did.”

Call 1-800-SSM-DOCS to schedule your screening.