Add a Twibbon to your Facebook & Twitter pic!

As Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month kicks off, we’re launching a new Blue Star Twibbon in partnership with My Colon Cancer Coach, to unite survivors, loved ones and advocates under a common symbol of support. Many of you are already participating in Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re thrilled to have your support as we head to Capitol Hill for Call-on Congress this week.

If you’ve never heard of a Twibbon, it’s basically a small image that overlays the corner of your Twitter or Facebook profile image, calling attention to colorectal cancer awareness and signifying your support for this cause. By adding one, you will:

• Raise awareness about the second-leading cancer killer in the United States among your social circles online
• Encourage more dialogue about colorectal cancer, including  legislation to promote prevention, screening and treatment
• Be a part of the movement for change and find new like-minded supporters and advocates

Throughout March and beyond, we would love for you to join this online community by adding the Blue Star Twibbon. Just visit the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Twibbon page to add yours today – and spread the word to others!

Representative Charlie Dent

Legislation was introduced in Congress today that will correct an oversight to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires Medicare beneficiaries to pay coinsurance when their screening colonoscopy also involves the removal of a polyp or cancer. When a screening colonoscopy turns therapeutic, the cost to the Medicare patient is significant – $100 to $300 – and it could serve as a deterrent to screening.

The legislation, Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2012 (H.R. 4120), was introduced by Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania.

Read the rest of this entry »

Time to splash Blue all over!

Today is the first day of March and the first day of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

March is full of Blue Awareness, nationally and locally. Spread the message that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable.

Don’t hide your story! Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your coworkers. Get them screened, teach them the symptoms. Get them involved. Read the rest of this entry »

Four members of Congress want their colleagues to wear blue on March 7 to welcome Fight Colorectal Cancer advocates who will be on Capitol Hill that day.

In a Dear Colleagues letter, Charles Dent, Betty McCollum, Michael G. Fitzpatrick, and James P. McGovern asked other members to GO BLUE on March 7 to show their support for the advocates and draw national attention to colorectal cancer.

Their letter emphasized the importance of screening for prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer — the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women in the United States. They said that if everyone age 50 and over were screened for colorectal cancer, the death rate could drop by 50 percent.

The members wrote,

Together, we have the ability to reach thousands of Americans with the message that early detection of colorectal cancer saves lives. Please take a moment in March to help spread the word — give a floor speech, write an op-ed or put out a press release. And remember to “GO BLUE” on March 7.

Cindy Robinson

Fight Colorectal Cancer advocate Cindy Robinson of Virginia has successfully petitioned her governor, Bob McDonnell, to proclaim March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This is the second consecutive year that Virginia has issued such a proclamation as a result of Ms. Robinson’s activism.

Since President Clinton issued the first Presidential Proclamation recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month over a decade ago, each year advocates request that their state and city officials issue proclamations acknowledging March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. 

Ms. Robinson followed the easy steps laid out in Fight Colorectal Cancer’s Proclamations 101 advocacy call to action and sent the request via email according to Virginia’s guidelines. She also contacted her local state senator, Jill Holtzman Vogel, to put in a good word with the governor’s office.

We thank Virginia Govenor Bob McDonnell, Senator Jill Vogel and advocate Cindy Robinson for recognizing the need to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and taking the first steps needed to accomplish that task.

Get your Governor to declare Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in your state. Visit our Proclamations 101 page for easy instructions.