Medina Healthcare System– Let’s Get Blued For Colon Cancer Awareness Month Friday, March 6th is Dress in Blue Day!
Did you know colon cancer is the second leading cause of overall cancer deaths in the United States? But it doesn’t have to stay this way. Early detection through screening can dramatically reduce your risk. This means having your colon checked regularly starting at age 50, or sooner if you are at higher risk.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and Friday, March 6 is National Dress in Blue Day. Help slash these stats by joining the Colon Cancer Alliance’s Dress in Blue Day movement. Through this national campaign and their screening, research and patient support initiatives, we can knock colon cancer out of the top three cancer killers for good.
Visit www.ccalliance.org to learn more about colon cancer and how you can get involved. And don’t forget, screening saves! Join us at 9am in the front lobby for a group photo and get a special gift at the front desk for wearing blue.
Why do we need to raise awareness about colon cancer?
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Why? Colon cancer typically has no symptoms until it has already progressed to later stages – making it much more difficult to treat. The good news is that a routine colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50 could help save thousands of lives in this country every year by finding and removing polyps before they have a chance to turn into cancer, or detecting colon cancer in its early stages when treatment is most effective.
Facts*:
- Approximately 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer every year
- Colon cancer often has no symptoms until it’s at an advanced stage
- You can reduce your risk through regular screenings
- Beginning at age 50 (or earlier if you have a family history), everyone should talk to a doctor about getting a screening test for colon cancer
*These statistics were compiled from the American Cancer Society’s Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2014-2016. Read more statistics.