Sign the Petition
July 15, 2008C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition has created an online petition that allows advocates to show their support for the three bills in Congress that will guarantee access to colorectal cancer screening.
Cover Your Butt
Congress is covering their butts. What about yours?
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Call-on Congress
Take your butt to Capitol Hill!
March 22-25, 2009
Washington, DCRegistration Now Open!
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What can you do? Click this button to find out:
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Cover my Butt! is a great campaign. Please listen to and act on the facts.
I am 100% behind this campaign! We need to stop cancer of all kinds and fight this instead of accepting government’s half assed fight.
Ok..I am supporting this…but lets not forget the largest group of us dying….those UNDER THE AGE OF 50 who are not even thinking Colon Cancer can happen to us. I was 29 when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer with invasion into the lymph nodes…I did chemo..I was angry……LETS TALK SYMPTOMS AND NOT AGE….LETS GET THE S Y M P T O M S OUT THERE……IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE ..ANY AGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with the previous writter. There needs to be an effective information campaign, geared to people aged 20 to age 50, of the early signs of colon cancer. The fact is, most colon cancer is caught when it is already advanced. I was diagnosed at age 39 with stage IV.
We at C3 agree with you that people need to be aware of symptoms of colorectal cancer and the critical importance of having those symptoms evaluated with COLONOSCOPY.
These colonoscopies are NOT screening but diagnostic tests.
No one should accept excuses like “you’re too young” or “probably just hemorrhoids.” Don’t stop until you get a real evaluation that includes colonoscopy to rule out colon or rectal cancer!!
Symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
Changes in bowel habits that last more than two weeks: constipation, diarrhea, alternating constipation and diarrhea.
Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool.
Persistent abdominal pain, bloating, or gas.
A feeling that the bowel hasn’t emptied completely.
Weakness, fatigue, or unexplained anemia.
Unexplained weight loss.
Although there are many reasons for these symptoms that don’t include cancer, they still need a complete diagnostic workup. Besides colorectal cancer, they might point to other treatable conditions.
But . . anyone with any symptoms at any age needs a colonoscopy.
If your doctor doesn’t agree, find one who does. Your life may depend on a prompt diagnosis and treatment.
In addition to symptoms of colorectal cancer, people younger than 50 with a family history of colorectal cancer may need earlier and more frequent screening.
Experts tell us that the first step in colorectal cancer screening is assessing risk.
If someone in your family was under 60 and diagnosed with either colorectal polyps or cancer or if two or more people on the same side of your family had polyps or colorectal cancer at any age, talk to your doctor about genetic counseling and earlier screening with colonoscopy.
If you have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, you also need earlier and more frequent screening with biopsies during colonoscopies.
My mother had advanced cancer at 72 but she is 85 now and doing great. Her symptoms were bleeding. My 3 sisters and me were told to come every 3 yrs. Today, my 52 year old sister was told today that she had developed a cancerous polyp during the 3 yrs. since she had the last one. They caught it early so she is fine. She had no symptoms
Everyone should have access to these tests.
I am Frances’ sister. I just had a strange feeling something was wrong, mainly because I work in a day care and we have an 8 yr old with Stage 4 cancer and recently discovered it is now in her bone marrow and her liver. I decided I should go get tested again, because I had not been since 2006. Well, there was one teeny tiny polyp, that they removed, and they took 2 more biopsies. Well, yesterday I was told that the teeny tiny polyp was cancer! So, Praise God, I followed my instinct and all was well! The prep is the worst part for me - the rest of it is no big deal, because you are asleep and you know nothing! Don’t be scared to go get one - it could save your life!!!!!!!
I am totally committed to screening at age 50 and younger for those with a family history or symptoms that need to be explored with colonoscopy. Had I been screened earlier than age 58 I would not have had to face stage III colon cancer and the subsequent surgery, chemo and radiation.
Fran Rauba