March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month – Take Care of Your Health!

Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in both men and women and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but it is also largely preventable. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the Prevent Cancer Foundation® remains dedicated to educating the public on the importance of getting screened and the ways to reduce your colorectal cancer risk. Your workplace giving donations make it possible to continue our work in research, education, advocacy and outreach efforts to prevent cancer or detect it early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.

Workplace giving donations allow the Prevent Cancer Foundation® to provide lifesaving information and services to communities most in need. During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and throughout the year, your donations are working to provide colorectal cancer prevention education and early detection services to underserved populations across the U.S. Your giving provides much needed support to community grant recipients, like the groups below.

Organization: Baltimore City Health Department
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Grant Amount: $25,000

The Baltimore City Health Department training health care providers to increase the use of fecal immunochemical (FIT) tests stool-based colorectal screening tests, along with motivational interviewing and other colorectal cancer screening tests. Their goal is to bring Baltimore closer to the national goal of having 80 percent of the recommended population getting regular screenings by 2018.

Organization: Chicago Family Health Center (CFHC)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Grant Amount: $25,000

Chicago Family Health Center (CFHC) is increasing early detection of colorectal cancer by expanding access to fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) or FIT tests with an enhanced provider reminder system. CFHC has five clinics throughout Chicago and serves mostly uninsured or underinsured Hispanic and African-American patients. CFHC expects to increase their colorectal cancer screening rate by 15 percent (from 51 percent to 66 percent) by the end of the grant period.

Farmworkers Self-Help Inc.                                     
Location: Dade City, Florida
Grant Amount: $25,000

Farmworkers Self-Help Inc. is using bilingual and bicultural outreach workers to provide breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and skin cancer education to mostly undocumented immigrant farmworkers and expanding their understanding of connections between good nutrition, exercise and health. Farmworkers Self-Help will also facilitate any necessary follow-up care. The team is canvassing migrant camps, housing projects, churches, flea markets and other venues to educate community members one-on-one and conduct group-training sessions at community events.

The Prevent Cancer Super Colon®

The Prevent Cancer Super Colon® is a unique, interactive educational tool that travels to communities across America with the message that colorectal cancer is Preventable. Treatable. Beatable.® This 20-foot-long replica gives visitors an up-close look at healthy colon tissue, tissue with

• Healthy colon tissue
• Tissue with inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Colorectal polyps (growths that can develop into cancer
• Various stages of colorectal cancer

The challenge in spreading colorectal cancer awareness is that it can often seem scary or intimidating. The Prevent Cancer Super Colon® is a great way to raise awareness with coworkers and family members in a relaxed environment, while also learning how to be your own best health advocate.

Learn more about how you can get the Prevent Cancer Super Colon® for your next event.

With your support, the Prevent Cancer Foundation can provide early detection and prevention resources to those who need it most. In the meantime, this Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, make a pledge to: take charge of your health by making smart lifestyle and nutrition choices; seeing your health care professional regularly for checkups and screenings; and monitor your body for any changes. You can be your own health advocates to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!®