This Friday, March 4, friends and families across America are making plans to wear blue in an effort to help raise awareness of colon cancer and the importance of having your colon checked.
Dress in Blue Day began in March of 2006 as a local event in Seattle in an effort to raise awareness of colon cancer, and the importance of screening. However, today it is a nationwide event on the first Friday of every March to raise awareness around the disease itself and the best ways to prevent it.
As the second leading cause of cancer death it the United States over 80 percent of all cases can be prevented when detected early with recommended screening, so it’s important to spread the word. Not sure what recommended screening entails? The Colon Cancer Alliance recommends having your colon checked regularly if you are 50 years of age or older, unless you are at higher risk because you:
- are African American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, or Jews of Ashkenazi descent;
- have a personal or family history of colon cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease;
- have a personal or family history of other types of cancer;
- have poor diet and exercise habits, type 2 diabetes, or smoke or drink heavily.
By waiting or avoiding having their colons checked, many people are greatly increase their risk.. Seven out of 10 people with colon cancer have no symptoms at all, which means that getting screened before symptoms develop is crucial. A simple test may save a life.
To celebrate Dress In Blue Day, SU2C is joining this important effort by urging the public to proudly wear blue on March 4 and continue to spread colon cancer awareness, not only in the month of March, but all year long. By standing together we can spread the word in the hopes that one day colon cancer, and all cancer, will be a thing of the past.
To learn more about what you can do to prevent colon cancer, visit the Colon Cancer Alliance website at www.ccalliance.org.
