Colorectal Health Awareness: #DontAssume · Fight Colorectal Cancer with a #StrongArmSelfie · Symptoms · Helpline: (877) 422-2030 · Donate
Sources: Colorectal Cancer Alliance; FightColorectalCancer.org
Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. But it also the most preventable and treatable type of cancer: around 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented through screening: the five-year survival rate at the earliest stages is 90 percent. While it is recommended that everyone over age 45 get screened, the colorectal cancer rate is rising among those aged 20 and up.
One alternative to the time, expense and preparation for a colonscopy screening is a DNA stool test, which can be done at home every three years by collecting a bowel movement and submitting it for laboratory analysis. A colonoscopy would then only be necessary if the results were positive.
Sponsors of the Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) organization will donate one dollar (up to $30,000) for every Twitter, Instagram or Facebook photo posted including the #StrongArmSelfie and @FightCRC tags. Dress code: something blue.
For the ninth time, Fight CRC is signing a petition voicing opposition to the co-pay Medicare patients face if polyps get removed – a barrier to screening commonly known as the “colonoscopy loophole bill.”
“Ending this barrier would reduce Medicare spending by $525 million over a 10-year period and prevent as many as 2,000 cases of colon cancer each year,” said Anjee Davis, president of Fight CRC. “We will continue to make closing the screening loophole a priority until we’re successful.”
In Memoriam: 2015 Fight CRC Ambassador Luke Perry died last week. He was best known for his portrayals of Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills 90210, and Fred Andrews on Riverdale. When colon cancer struck the family of a childhood friend, Luke said that he “asked me to do something, and the answer was just simply, ‘Yes’.” More