FARGO - March is dedicated to spreading awareness and educating people about the colon.
Abnormal growths, or polyps, can form in the colon and eventually turn into cancer.
A colonoscopy can remove those polyps early and prevent colon cancer.
Doctors say people should have a colonoscopy at 50 years old and every 10 years after that.
"It's a big deal. You know, 55,000 people die of colon cancer every year," said Dr. Ross Meidinger, a gastroenterologist at Sanford Health. "It makes me sad because it can totally be prevented if people go through the screening process."
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Meidinger, said there are other ways to get screened for colon cancer, but a colonoscopy is the "gold standard."
