March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to call attention to colorectal cancer and the importance of screening. Eighteen years ago, on March 1, 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the proclamation officially declaring March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It might never have happened without the hard work of the director of external affairs at the Prevent Cancer Foundation, Stephanie Guiffre.
Stopping a Silent Killer
In 1999, colorectal cancer was still known as the “silent killer” because it was an uncomfortable topic to discuss and because so few people understood the importance of early screening to save lives. Awareness was low and less than 50% of people were following the screening guidelines.1 Stephanie Guiffre and her team recruited over 50 organizations to help move colorectal cancer awareness to the
In 1999, colorectal cancer was still known as the “silent killer” because it was an uncomfortable topic to discuss and because so few people understood the importance of early screening to save lives. Awareness was low and less than 50% of people were following the screening guidelines. 1 Stephanie Guiffre and her team recruited over 50 organizations to help move colorectal cancer awareness to the forefront. This coalition acted to raised funds and lobby in Washington D.C., this massive collaboration moved congress to designate March as National Colon Cancer Awareness Month in 2000. Once this designation was made, they took their message to the public with a nationwide messaging campaign.1
In 2013, The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable set a goal of an 80% colorectal cancer screening rate by 2018.2 As of 2015, according to the most recent data, the adult screening rate had risen to nearly 63%.3
Thanks to efforts to raise awareness, in March 2014, the American Cancer Society announced that colorectal cancer incidence rates had dropped 30% in the U.S. among adults ages 50 and older. They attributed this drop to the increase in colorectal cancer screenings, specifically through colonoscopies.4
Know the Signs of Colorectal Cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, the symptoms of colorectal cancer could include5:
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days.
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement without the relief of having one.
- Rectal bleeding with blood.
- Blood in the stool, which may make the stool look darker in color.
- Cramping or abdominal pain.
- Fatigue or weakness.
- Unexpected weight loss.
If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, schedule a visit with your doctor to discuss.
Know Your Risk Factors
During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, recognize your risk of developing colorectal cancer and act.
The risk factors for colorectal cancer can include6:
- Age, the risk of Colorectal cancer goes up as you age and is much more common after age 50
- A family history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer
- A personal history of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- People with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of colorectal cancer
- Obesity
- Consuming a diet high in red meats and processed meats
- Physical inactivity
- Tobacco use
- Heavy to moderate alcohol use
If you have one or more of these risk factors, it is important to contact your doctor to discuss the best colorectal cancer screening method for you and when you should begin colorectal cancer screening.
How You Can Join the Fight
Healthcare professionals are on the front line to educate and advocate for their patients. Registered Nurses can help identify risk factors and symptoms in their patients that may prompt colorectal cancer screening. As part of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at AHU Online, RNs are taught how to design preventative healthcare initiatives, such as colorectal cancer awareness and screening campaigns, to benefit the community and also how to become involved in research for public health. Knowledge is advanced further in the Master of Science in Nursing, in which RNs are immersed in public policy, clinical education, and leadership development, enabling them to make a significant impact on their healthcare community.
If you are an imaging technologist and would like to help prevent cancer and save lives, consider AHU Online’s Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences or the Advanced Imaging Certificate in Computed Tomography (CT). In these programs, you will learn more about virtual colonoscopy, an imaging exam that uses CT to provide images of inside the colon, which is an exciting option for colorectal cancer screening. Since this exam is less invasive than traditional colonoscopy, yet still allows doctors to identify polyps inside the colon, many patients may be more likely to have colorectal screenings and more lives may be saved.
Learn more here about how AHU Online can help you reach your career goals and how you can join the fight against colorectal cancer.
Sources:
- “Colon Cancer Awareness Month: How It Got Started,” Colorectal Cancer Alliance Blog, November 21, 2013, https://ccalliance.org/blog/colon-cancer-awareness-month-how-it-got-started/.
- “Working Toward The Shared Goal Of 80% Screened For Colorectal Cancer By 2018,” National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, accessed March 9, 2018, http://nccrt.org/what-we-do/80-percent-by-2018/.
- “Colorectal Cancer: Facts and Figures 2017-2019,” American Cancer Society, accessed March 9, 2018, https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures-2017-2019.pdf.
- “Facts and Stats,” Fight Colorectal Cancer, accessed March 9, 2018, https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/prevent/about-colorectal-cancer/facts-stats/.
- “Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms,” American Cancer Society, accessed March 23, 2018, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html
- “Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors,” American Cancer Society, accessed March 23, 2018, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
