March is a special month for colorectal cancer patients, family members and advocates. This is the nation’s 12^th Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re celebrating the fact that President Obama, several governors and mayors are recognizing it as such.

The point of awareness months are, as the name suggests, to increase knowledge about the particular cause it celebrates. But that increase in awareness doesn’t just happen. It needs to be fostered by organizations like the Colorectal Cancer Coalition and advocates like you.

Perhaps you have your own plans for spreading awareness this month (and if you do, please let us know…and send pictures).

Or maybe you’re looking for ways to get involved. Well, we have some suggestions for you.

March 2^nd and 3^rd:
Join the Congressional Butt-in. Call 1-866-615-3375 to get connected to Congress. Five minutes of your time could save countless lives.

March 3^rd:
Take part in CancerCare’s “Current Developments in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer” Telephone Workshop at 1:30 PM Eastern.

March 8^th:
Be on the lookout for big news from the Colorectal Cancer Coalition. Sign up for our e-news alerts so you don’t miss a thing.

March 8^th & 9^th:
Follow advocates participating in the Colorectal Cancer Coalition’s Call-on Congress via our Twitter feed.

March 9^th:
Virtually join advocates visiting Congressional offices as part of Call-on Congress through our Virtual Lobby Day.

March 16^th:
Participate in our monthly Grassroots Advocate Chat at 8 PM Eastern. Exchange ideas with others from around the country on how they are working to ramp up the fight against colorectal cancer.

March 23^rd – 25^th:
Join Prevent Cancer Foundation’s “Dialogue for Action” in Baltimore, MD.

All month long:
Get your run on with Get Your Rear in Gear events throughout the country.

As the Australian government considers the future of its National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, Australian and US researchers provide compelling evidence of the cost-effectiveness of expanding the national screening program.

Australia has one of the highest colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rates in the world. Its current screening program (costing about $29 million a year) provides a one-time immunochemical fecal test (iFOBT) for people aged 50, 55, and 65 years. Program funding expires in mid-2011.

A study funded by the Australian government and the US National Cancer Institute, published in the Feb. 21 Medical Journal of Australia, found that expanding the program to screen all 5 million Australians aged 50 -74 years every two years by iFOBT could end up costing only about $50 million more a year, while saving 300 to 500 lives every year.

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The Colorectal Cancer Coalition is deeply saddened by the loss of Arlene Murphy who passed away January 29, 2011. Arlene was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer in September 2004, and over the years underwent several surgeries and numerous different chemotherapies. In July 2009, she retired from her job of 25 years as a secretary for a local school district in Southwest Ohio.

A member of our Grassroots Action Committee since 2009, Arlene was an inspiration to everyone she met. She brought a spunkiness and passion to her advocacy work that truly made a difference. She leaves behind a legacy of passion, commitment and energy on behalf of all touched by colorectal cancer.
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This afternoon, Federal Judge Roger Vinson issued a ruling in a lawsuit brought by 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) alleging that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.

Judge Vinson agreed with the states’ argument that the new law violates people’s rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties (this is the so-called “individual mandate” provision). His ruling strikes down the entire law finding that the individual mandate provision cannot be severed from the rest of the law.

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This evening, the President gave his annual address to Congress and called for a freeze in domestic spending while at the same time calling for innovation and acknowledging the importance of biomedical research.

“As someone who is committed to winning the fight against cancer, I was pleased to hear the President talk about the importance of innovation. However, it is counterproductive to proclaim that ‘this is our generation’s Sputnik moment’ while calling for a spending freeze for domestic programs.

Now is not the time for across the board cuts to domestic spending. If we are going to find a cure for cancer in our lifetimes, we need a sustained investment in proven research programs – programs that encourage innovation and ensure discoveries make it from bench to bedside as quickly as possible.

On behalf of the thousands of Americans who will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year and on behalf of the millions of Americans living with colorectal cancer I urge the President and Congress to renew the fight against cancer with smart and sustained investments in biomedical research that will not only save thousands of lives but encourage innovation and help stimulate the economy by creating much-needed jobs.”

- Carlea Bauman, President of the Colorectal Cancer Coalition

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