Talking About Colorectal Cancer
September 2006 (Medialink) -- Every four minutes
someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Many people
may consider colorectal cancer an embarrassing topic of
conversation, but this is one talk that could save your life.
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related
death in the United States, yet it is highly preventable and curable
with appropriate screening and early detection. That is why it is so
important for both men and women to talk with their doctor about the
screening recommendations that are right for them—before symptoms
ever develop. And for those who have been diagnosed with colorectal
cancer, improved communication between doctors, patients, and
caregivers can help improve the patients' ability to better cope
with the disease and make more informed treatment decisions.
To help raise public awareness about the importance of an open
physician/patient dialogue and to help provide patients with
resources to initiate and maintain these important discussions with
their doctors, the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA), a national patient
advocacy organization, will be launching an educational workshop
series called "Conversations About Colorectal Cancer." A series of
ten free workshops will be held across the country over the next
year to encourage dialogue about the disease, offer information
about the latest medical advances and give patients and caregivers
the opportunity to listen to and support one another in their fight
against colorectal cancer.
Every nine minutes a life is lost to colorectal cancer, but this
does not have to be. Colorectal cancer is often preventable, and
when detected in its early stage, is more than 90 percent curable.
Talking with your doctor about colorectal cancer is essential to
prevention and early detection, as well as to making informed
treatment decisions.