It's a part of the body we don't like to discuss. Even among our spouses and closest confidants our backsides tend to remain a rather personal issue. It's probably because the subject is spoke about in whispers that our state's residents continue to die at an alarming rate because of a disease that can usually be prevented with proper screening and early detection.

No one wants to have a camera and a bunch of other medical instruments introduced to the inner workings of their body via their rectum. Okay, at least no one I know personally wants that to happen but it needs to happen to save lives.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and many of our state's citizens are simply unaware of just how serious the problem can be.

If you’re average risk and you don’t have symptoms or significant family history of cancer, we generally recommend that people undergo screening at age 50.

That is sage advice from  Dr. Jordan Karlitz with the Tulane Medical Center. His department is studying the causes and affects of Louisiana's above normal instances for colorectal cancer.

In a story published by the Louisiana Radio Network Dr. Karlitz went on to explain just how easy and painless the screening can be.

It’s an easy test to do, the bowel prep has gotten a lot easier to tolerate, patients are comfortable during the exam, and it’s a great way to get screened.

It is suggested that all residents over the age of 50 have a colorectal exam. African-Americans have been found to have higher instances of colorectal related issues. Dr. Karltiz suggests that those citizens have their first exam at the age of 45.

The bottom line on your bottom is this, screening saves lives. Don't be embarrassed by the kind of test or the part of the body the screening is for. It would be a shame to lose a loved one because they were too embarrassed to be screened.

More From KISS Country 93.7