American Cancer Society Encourages Testing—

Colorectal Cancer Is Preventable

WILTON — March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society uses this opportunity to raise awareness that colorectal cancer (commonly referred to as “colon cancer”) — one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States — is largely preventable.

In January, the American Cancer Society reported that cancer deaths dropped for the second year in a row. The study noted that there was a significant decline in colorectal cancer mortality.

Although this is good news, the society estimates that in 2007, approximately 154,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer, and more than 52,000 will die, a number that could be cut in half if Americans followed American Cancer Society screening recommendations. In Connecticut, an estimated 2,190 men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, of which an estimated 590 will die.

The American Cancer Society says increasing colon cancer screening among adults 50 and over represents the single greatest opportunity to decrease colon cancer death rates.

“Everyone over 50 has the wonderful opportunity to avoid developing colon cancer completely or to find the disease in an early stage,” said Richard C. Wender, MD, national volunteer president of the society. “Since most people with colon cancer do not have a family history of the disease, waiting for symptoms to develop is a tragic mistake.

Dr Wender said symptoms can be a sign of more advanced disease.

“Finding and removing hidden growths — called ‘polyps’ — before they turn into cancer, which can be done without surgery, can help us defeat this major cancer killer by preventing it altogether,” he continued. “The tests can also detect cancer in an early stage. If a cancer is found, treating it before symptoms develop dramatically increases the likelihood of a cure. When found at its earliest, most treatable stage, colon cancer has a 90 percent survival rate.”

The decline in colon cancer deaths recently reported is largely attributed to early detection, which is why it is so important for everyone 50 and older to get tested. Getting tested can stop the disease before it starts.

Early colon cancer often has no symptoms, which is why testing is so important. Getting tested is especially critical for Americans age 50 and over as more than 90 percent of colon cancer cases are diagnosed in people over the age of 50.

In conjunction with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the American Cancer Society has just published a new book on colon cancer, QuickFACTS: Colon Cancer. The book is designed to give people the many facts they need to know about colon cancer, in an easy-to-read format.

The publication provides a detailed summary of colon cancer and then goes on to discuss risks factors, causes, prevention and detection, diagnosis and staging, conventional treatment options and complementary and alternative methods, life after treatment, and the latest research. The detailed explanations are written in easy-to-understand everyday terms.

The society currently funds 104 colon cancer research grants nationwide totaling approximately $55 million. Its science-based early detection guidelines help health care providers and consumers alike make decisions about testing.

In support of the society’s efforts to reduce colon cancer occurrence and mortality among minority and other medically underserved populations, its sister advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), is working with Congress on legislation to establish a federal pilot program for colon cancer testing and treatment in medically underserved communities.

The demonstration projects funded through this legislation would allow grantees the flexibility to explore new ways to deliver testing and treatment in a way that meets the needs of their communities. ACS CAN is also leading efforts at the state level to pass laws that would require private health insurance plans to cover the full range of colon cancer screenings in all 50 states.

Thanks in part to ACS CAN’s advocacy efforts, 19 states and the District of Columbia now guarantee such coverage, as does Medicare. Additionally, ACS CAN is collaborating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ensure more Medicare beneficiaries take advantage of these life-saving screening tests.

These efforts include advocating removing Medicare co-pays for colonoscopies and extending the Welcome to Medicare visit time limit from six months to one year.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering, and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime call toll free 800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. QuickFACTS: Colon Cancer is available at www.cancer.org/bookstore and in retail bookstores nationwide.