March - CRC Awareness Month

[Kathryn in MN]

I never would have thought 2 1/2 years ago that I'd someday be speaking to a group of CRC survivors and caregivers about what they can do in March and beyond to support CRC Awareness Month. But that is what I did tonight. I've tweaked my hand-out sheet to cover the US instead of just MN. If anyone would like it, you can find it at this link:

http://photos.imageevent.com/kathryn_in_mn/carssouth/CRC%20Awareness%20Month%202012.pdf

[Guinevere]

Excellent!! Isn't it amazing the journeys the Lord leads us on and we have no idea there was a trip in the offing!

[esk2poo]

That is amazing. I ran into a local radio personality at the doctors last week and was talking to him there. He is on 101.5 in NJ and does a 4 hour pm show. I emailed him the other day and will keep doing it until I hear something from him. I told him that March is colon cancer awareness month and asked if they could mention it, do an hour on it, get some resources in to go over the facts or whatever. I have been on a mission from day one telling everyone to go get a colonoscopy. Cutting out a couple of polyps every couple of years is a hell of a lot better than going through major surgeries and chemo.
Praying for the end of all cancers and suffering.
Allen

[abuttigi]

I'm planning on telling my dad's story (with his permission, of course) to show people my age that this cancer can happen to anyone, and to encourage them to bother their parents/aunts/uncles/cousins/whoever until they get screened. I hope people listen, but better to try then not I guess.

Angie

[NWgirl]

Great timing! I'm speaking to a group next week - I'm going to include your hand out - with a few local tweaks - thanks!

[Ivona]

4 years ago I didn't even know what colorectal cancer was....

now I think I know more about the disease than my damn doctor!!!

[crazymotherof8]

March 2nd is Dress in Blue day and I took one of the Dress In Blue information facts and symptoms flyer from the Colon Cancer Alliance website to my children's schools and they were happy to participate in Dress in Blue day. They will send home the fact sheet and encourage the children to show support for my husband and my children, their classmates, on March 2nd. My husband also sent the fact sheet to the PR dept of his work and they said they will also do something to get the word out as well. I hope that this will get more people in our community talking about colorectal cancer!
Niki

[sadysue]

I purchased a couple of t-shirts today that advertised colorectal cancer awareness. I plan to wear them as often as possible during March....and as often as possible after March. If it brings awareness to even a couple of people, I'll feel it was money well spent. I'll speak to anyone who approaches me (and hopefully some will) to ask questions. I've never been able to speak about anything in front of a group of people but this new subject for me (rectal cancer) I could address in front of a million people with no fear.
Mary Ann

[Gaelen]

Foks, if you want t-shirts or clothing to "work" awareness during March, I can highly recommend the shirts from both Colon Cancer Alliance and Fight Colorectal Cancer. And when you buy those shirts, you'll also be contributing to the organizations who spend money on research, patient support and year-long awareness programs.

CCA has several different tees, a baseball cap and a brand new scrub top. The scrub top runs big (which I like). The workmanship on the scrub top (the slogan is embroidered) is very well done.

FightCRC has a short sleeve tee and a baseball cap. Note: if you're coming to Call on Congress, you'll get a tee shirt that may be different from the ones for sale in the store, or may be the same...it changes each year.

[Gaelen]

And while we're talking about ways to raise awareness and buying tee shirts - how is it that the petition from CRC advocates to light the White House in blue has ONLY 906 signatures as of Feb. 20th ?!? There have to be more than 906 Americans who care about colorectal cancer awareness displays?

According to the SEER data, as of 2008 there were over 1.1 million people in the US living with colon or rectal cancers - and according to the same database, over 49,000 Americans died of complications of CRC in 2011. The average US deaths per year runs around 50,000 people, and is only slightly dropping in the last three years - CRC is still the #2 most deadly cancer that affects both men and women, behind only lung cancer.

Yes, you have to create an account at We the People, the online electronic petition site created at whitehouse.gov. I wrote up the process in my column today. You enter the exact same information when you register for this forum. Unlike many advocacy opportunities, you don't have to be able to travel, have too much spare time, be able to ride run or walk a long distance, get donations to your cause, or even be feeling at the top of your game to do this - you just have to admit, electronically, that you care about promoting colorectal cancer awareness.

And I gotta admit - blue spotlights on the White House door are a LOT more classy than a ginormous pink ribbon hanging the whole length of the North Portico and swaying in the Pennsyvania Avenue breeze. Butt and ass cancer may have a high "ick" factor, but that doesn't mean we can't ask for a classy awareness display.

So...have you signed the petition yet?