March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and screening for this type of cancer is the No. 1 way to reduce the risk.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but is the most preventable and treatable when found early. Colorectal cancer is an illness no one likes to discuss, and for many, talking about it even with their doctor can be embarrassing.

Zenaida Laxa has been setting up and staffing the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign booth for the past 11 years, as she did March 22, educating staff and patients about colorectal cancer. She is the colorectal cancer campaign charter team lead, and the only certified gastroenterology registered nurse in the Gastroenterology (GI) Clinic at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.

"The NMCP staff knew me already and thanked me personally for campaigning and spreading the word that colon cancer is beatable and treatable when found at an early stage," Laxa said. "Younger generations are not interested in regard to the colorectal cancer materials, but I informed them to read and relay the information to parents and friends."

The American Cancer Society estimates the number of new cases in the U.S. during 2017 will be 95,520 new cases of colon cancer and 39,910 new cases of rectal cancer.

"I pledge to help stop colon cancer by doing my Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign every March," Laxa said.

In addition to passing out information on colorectal cancer, Laxa also had posters and information handouts to inform guests about digestion and GI issues.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, visit http://www.navy.mil/.