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.