March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and PAH is committed to spreading the word and encouraging life-saving screenings. Each year, over 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Those with loved ones who have been diagnosed are twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer themselves, and a history of colon polyps or inflammatory bowel disease also increases the risk. The good news: it’s preventable. A simple colonoscopy can make all the difference, and if caught early, there is a 90 percent chance of recovery.
Help PAH encourage awareness all month long, beginning with National Dress in Blue Day on Friday, March 2. Be sure to get your blue-clad crew together for a photo, post it to Facebook or Twitter, and tag @PennCancer! If your team would like a collection of colorectal cancer awareness stickers for your staff, contact Marketing coordinator Phil Stoltzfus at Phillip.Stoltzfus@uphs.upenn.edu or 215.614.0025.
Throughout the month, don’t forget to challenge your friends, family members, and coworkers – especially if they’re over 50! – to learn more about the risk factors, educate themselves on symptoms, work in some healthier lifestyle choices, and schedule a screening today at PennMedicine.com/Prevention.