Colon Cancer Awareness Month may have come to a close, but that doesn’t mean our work is done. This year’s theme for Colon Cancer Awareness Month was taking your own journey the “Land Down Under.” The Outback can be intimidating, but with the support system of a qualified gastroenterologist and some good “mates,” you will have a G’day when you get your colonoscopy completed!
Maybe you are wondering why we are so dedicated to the Land Down Under, and we’ll tell you why! The incidence of colon cancer is declining among individuals aged 50 and older, thanks to education and the Affordable Care Act. Among young people however, colon cancer incidence is on the rise. We need to continue the momentum throughout the year that we have built in the month of March. Here are some other important facts about the Outback:
- Every year, 150,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer
- Colon cancer is the third deadliest form of cancer
- Colon cancer is preventable and highly treatable when detected early
- Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon screenings
- A colonoscopy can remove a polyp before it has the opportunity to develop into cancer
It always helps to keep the big goal in mind, and that can be summed up in three words: 80% by 2018. This means that by 2018, we want to see 80 percent of all eligible individuals screened for colon cancer. This is an aggressive goal, but it can be done. Let’s keep strong in our goal of 80% by 2018! We can achieve it if we tell our friends and loved ones to join us on the journey to the Land Down Under. Keep the spirit alive, and let’s press on until we screen every eligible person for colon cancer! Then we will all have a G’day!