Giving Compass' Take:

• Susan Keown unpacks six dangerous misconceptions about colon cancer that prevent people from getting life-saving treatment. 

• How can funders help to educate the public about the realities of colon cancer? How can equity gaps be closed? 

• Learn how to promote health equity. 

It’s the second-most common cancer killer in the U.S., but misconceptions about colorectal cancer can keep people from accessing the preventive care and treatment they might need.

We asked colorectal cancer experts at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for the top misunderstandings they encounter about this disease, which is diagnosed in more than 130,000 Americans each year.

Hutch experts came up with six, but here are the Cliffs Notes takeaways: Screening saves lives. And so does a healthy diet. Read on:

  1. Misunderstanding No. 1:
    I don’t need to be screened if I’m not having symptoms
  2. Misunderstanding No. 2:
    I can’t get colon cancer before I turn 50
  3. Misunderstanding No. 3:
    Colonoscopy is painful
  4. Misunderstanding No. 4:
    Colonoscopy is my only option for screening
  5. Misunderstanding No. 5:
    Women don’t get colorectal cancer
  6. Misunderstanding No. 6:
    Mmm … meat

Read more about these colon cancer misconceptions by Susan Keown at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.