Advocates from all 50 States Work to Turn Nation “Blue” for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - April 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Advocates from every state in the U.S. raised their voices this year as part of “Blue Star States,” a campaign by Fight Colorectal Cancer and the Colon Cancer Alliance seeking to have every state issue a proclamation designating March 2014 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. To-date, 46 states issued proclamations and two others published governor or state-issued letters highlighting the importance of screening and early detection of the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. This was the first time advocates from all 50 states submitted requests.

“Advocates from across the U.S. stepped up and made colorectal cancer a national priority this year,” said Anjee Davis, president of Fight Colorectal Cancer. “I am so proud of the volunteers who petitioned their states to issue these proclamations and ultimately, raised awareness that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable.”

The state-level campaign launched in November and asked volunteers across the country to request proclamations from their state governments. Advocates from every state in the U.S. submitted proclamation requests. The effort united the colorectal cancer community as many partners and other organizations got involved to see the entire country “go blue” and recognize March’s awareness activities; an effort that paved the way for President Obama’s national proclamation on Feb. 28, 2014.

“Colon cancer is largely preventable and we’re working daily to break down barriers to screening,” said Eric Hargis, Colon Cancer Alliance CEO. “It is efforts like Blue Star States that show the public that we’re a nationwide united front. If you’re 50 years old or of high risk, you should get screened.  It can save your life.”

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., but it’s highly preventable. Although 90 percent of the cases are beatable when detected early, 23 million Americans are still not up-to-date with screening. The Blue Star States campaign elevates the importance of colorectal cancer awareness and the commitment of the entire colorectal cancer community to the goal of “80 percent screened by 2018.”

“Now that colorectal cancer is recognized in nearly every state and advocates across the country are ready, engaged and united – we can push forward with our community’s ambitious goal and together, raise the screening rate from 65 to 80 percent by 2018 to prevent future cases of colorectal cancer,” said Davis.

For more information about the campaign, visit http://www.FightColorectalCancer.org/BlueStarState

About Colon Cancer Alliance
The Colon Cancer Alliance’s mission is to knock colon cancer out of the top three cancer killers. This mission is being accomplished by championing prevention, funding cutting-edge research and providing the highest quality patient support services. Learn more at http://www.ccalliance.org.

About Fight Colorectal Cancer
Fight Colorectal Cancer is a leading national colorectal cancer nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. Through patient education, advocacy and research funding the group spreads awareness and demands a cure for the second-leading killer in the United States. As the leading advocacy group, the organization serves as a resource for colorectal cancer patients, grassroots advocates, policy makers, medical professionals and health care providers. Learn more at http://www.FightColorectalCancer.org.