March marks Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Mount Sinai Hospital is taking proactive steps to inform the public about this preventable disease.

At a community health fair, attendees have access to screenings, consultations, and crucial information aimed at safeguarding their health.

"It's very important that the public knows about colorectal cancer and the fact that it's preventable," said Dr. David Greenwald, director of clinical gastroenterology and endoscopy at Mount Sinai Hospital.

This year marks the ninth annual community fair hosted by the hospital, providing individuals with access to expert teams dedicated to combating colorectal cancer. Greenwald highlights the effectiveness of screening in preventing the disease, stating, "Colorectal cancer is a screenable disease - the screening, which is often a stool-based test, is easy and can save your life."

Attendees have the opportunity to not only stop by informative tables but also can walk through an inflatable colon, serving as a teaching tool to illustrate what doctors look for during screenings. Greenwald explains, "Colorectal cancer often starts with polyps. Our model colon shows some polyps. Those polyps grow from little polyps to big polyps to cancer - if we remove those polyps, we prevent cancer."

Guests such as Kershema Stevenson-Butler express appreciation. “I think this is fabulous. Like more people need to be informed, and this is a great place to be informed because at least you know they know what they’re talking about,” said Stevenson-Butler.

Greenwald underscores the significance of early detection, as colorectal cancer ranks as the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the U.S.

"Everybody aged 45 and older is appropriate for colon cancer screening. The most important thing is that colon cancer is largely preventable. If caught early, it's treatable, so therefore it's beatable," said Greenwald.

For those who missed the fair, access to information is available through Mount Sinai Hospital's website and its Hospital CHOICE program. You can also call for an appointment at 212-824-7887.