March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Posted March 3, 2016 by Premier Disability Services, LLC® The month of March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. In February 2000, President Clinton dedicated the month of March to awareness of cancers that affect the colon and/or rectum.[1] Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the United States and causes the second most deaths from cancer.[2]

According to the American Cancer Society, most colorectal cancers begin as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or rectum called a polyp. Not all polyps become cancer, but some can change into cancer over the course of several years. If a polyp does become cancerous, it can eventually grow into the wall of the colon or rectum. From there, cancer can potentially spread to the blood vessels or lymph vessels and eventually into nearby lymph nodes or distant parts of the body.[3]

On the first Friday of March, the entire colorectal cancer community will unite by wearing the color blue in a similar manner as the breast cancer community will wear pink during the month of October. The purpose of raising awareness about colorectal cancer is to teach people how preventable this disease can be. Colorectal cancer is widely viewed as highly treatable if detected early.

At Premier, we intend to join the colorectal cancer community on Friday in wearing the color blue companywide. Please join us in promoting awareness of this disease by wearing the color blue on Friday. If you or someone you know is over the age of 50, it may be time to consider speaking to your doctor about screening for colorectal cancer.

By: Devon Brady of Premier Disability Services, LLC®

[1] http://www.ccalliance.org/awareness-month
[2] https://healthfinder.gov/nho/MarchToolkit
[3] http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer