The limitations of current screening and risk identification methods drive the critical need for Congress to prioritize colorectal cancer research and funding. Traditional beliefs that routine colonoscopies suffice or that only those with specific health conditions are at risk dangerously overlook the disease's complexities. My mother's experience exemplifies this oversight. Despite leading a healthy lifestyle and undergoing a colonoscopy that detected no issues, she was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer three years later, despite no genetic risk factors, and tragically passed away after a 2.5-year battle. This highlights the inadequacy of existing preventive measures and the urgent need for a broader, more nuanced approach to early detection beyond what colonoscopies can offer. There's a vital need to explore under-researched risk factors and early detection markers to prevent further loss of life. It's not enough to adjust the age for screenings; we must revolutionize our approach to fight this disease more effectively. By committing to expanded research and funding, we can honor those we've lost and protect future generations from similar fates.

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