MONTREAL, Feb. 24, 2015 /CNW/ - March is colorectal cancer awareness month and Dress in Blue Day highlights our international participation to increase colon cancer awareness and support for colon cancer patients and their families across Canada and worldwide.
"It provides our community with the opportunity to show support simply by dressing in blue and helping to raise funds for important programs to bring about colon cancer awareness, education and support for patients. It opens the door to a colonversation to break down barriers in discussing colon cancer and encourages awareness about a disease that is preventable, treatable and beatable," said Barry D. Stein president of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada ("CCAC").
"We encourage Canadian men and women to discuss their screening options with their physicians. Screening means getting checked before there are any signs or symptoms. Finding and removing a polyp before it becomes cancerous can save your life. Our goal is to ensure that all men and women in Canada between the ages of 50-74 are screened for the disease."
"We are also reminded that while colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates have decreased slightly largely due to increased screening with the introduction of provincial screening programs, surprisingly the incidence is increasing in younger individuals, particularly between the ages of 40-50 for whom screening use is limited and symptoms go unrecognized. Young adults below the age of 40 and who are symptomatic and or have a family history of the disease should discuss the possibility of being screened earlier with their primary care physicians." Stein added.
WHAT: March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time when thousands of individuals, companies and community groups across the country help raise awareness, support those touched by the disease and encourage others to get screened
WHY: Colorectal cancer is the third most common diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women combined in Canada. Last year about 24,400 (about 13,500 men and 10,800 women) were diagnosed with colon cancer and about 9,300 people (5,100 men and 4,200 women) died from this disease. But did you know that colon cancer is preventable through recommended screening and is treatable and beatable when detected and treated in its early stages?
WHO: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and Dress in Blue Day engage schools, businesses, community groups and individuals to spread lifesaving knowledge on how to prevent colorectal cancer. You can join in individually or as a team at www.dressinblue.ca
WHO: People are dressing up to turn the country blue, the official colour for colon cancer awareness, by hosting denim days and blue costume contests at offices and schools, holding local fundraising events, getting involved on social media and so much more.
WHEN: Dress in Blue Day is held annually on the first Friday of March (March 6th) but activities go on all month long. On this day, we unite in the colour blue to raise funds to support the CCAC's amazing programs dedicated to awareness, patient support and advocacy on their behalf.
HOW: To join in on Dress in Blue Day you can find all the information about the event and register at www.dressinblue.ca You can be an individual fundraiser or team member and just dress in blue and show your support!
About the CCAC
The Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada is the country's leading non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of colorectal cancer, supporting patients and advocating on their behalf.
Visit: www.dressinblue.ca Dress in Blue Day:
Visit: www.colorectal-cancer.ca for up-to-date information on colorectal cancer or call 1.877.50.COLON (26566).
SOURCE Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada
To schedule an interview contact: Alli Carr, Events, CCAC, T: (514) 875-7745 ext. 225, C: (514) 952-7844, [email protected]; Barry D. Stein, President, CCAC, [email protected], T: 514.875.7899, C: 514.944.0200
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