Letter: March is colorectal cancer awareness month

Published: March 18, 2010

Article Tools

Font size: [A] [A] [A]

Our Social Networks

Facebook

Dear Editor: March is colorectal cancer awareness month, and the Central Susquehanna Colorectal Cancer Task Force wants to remind our community friends about the importance of early detection and prevention.

According to the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women. More than 140,000 individuals are diagnosed each year.

Unfortunately, in Pennsylvania, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Thankfully, incidence and mortality rates have declined over the past decade. However, rates might drop more dramatically if more people received the recommended screening tests.

Normally, screening should begin at age 50. However, your doctor may recommend screening tests earlier if you are at higher risk or have symptoms.Symptoms include a change in your bowel habits, rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, lower abdominal cramps, fatigue, nausea and unexplained weight loss. Talk to your health care provider about the right time for you to begin screening. If you have symptoms, call right away.

Serving Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Columbia, and Montour counties, the task force is committed to educating and informing the public about colon cancer. Past projects include bringing the Colossal Colon (a walk-through colon replica) to the Susquehanna Valley Mall, hosting an event entitled Celebrate Life - Stories of Hope from Survivors of Colon Cancer that featured local survivors, advocating for increased colorectal cancer screening coverage and clean indoor air legislation in Pennsylvania, and most recently, organizing a colonothon hosted by Evangelical Community Hospital.

If you are interested in becoming involved in task force activities, please contact co-chair Janet Bilger at 374-0181, jbilger@union-snydercaa.org or simply attend a meeting. We meet the second Tuesday of every month at 6:15 p.m. at the American Cancer Society office in Lewisburg.

Now is the perfect time to schedule a free educational program about colorectal cancer for your group or work site. As a trained Pennsylvania Cancer Education Network (PCEN) instructor, I would be more than happy to talk to your group. You can reach me at 523-3600, lisaw@familyplanningplus.org.

Remember, colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented with regular screening. Please get involved, get educated, get screened.

Lisa Wehr

Task Force member

PCEN Educator

Program coordinator

Family Planning Plus of SUN & MJ Counties

Ads by Yahoo!