By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

Since March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, different organizations are bringing to light information about the disease.

Marcie Lindstrom is an advanced practice nurse for OSF Medical Group and gave some information about the disease.

“One in 20 people will get colon cancer in their lifetime. We always say, ‘we don’t have a family history or any symptoms,’ and actually, most people diagnosed today with colon cancer do not have a family history. Genetics does play a role, but for a lot of people, that’s not their risk factor for that. I think it’s very common for folks. As we tend to get older, rectal bleeding is an abnormal symptom and a lot of times, we write it off as hemorrhoids. We think it’s just a benign hemorrhoid bleed. Even if it’s a spot of red blood on the tissue paper, it’s very important to discuss it with your doctor and get in for colonoscopy,” Lindstrom said.

The full forum with Lindstrom is available at wjez.com.