Educating Philadelphia Residents About Colorectal Cancer Screening
From: PR Newswire
The ‘Make Screening a Reality’ Program Launches in Philadelphia to Encourage
Young People to Remind Older Friends and Family to Get Screened
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ — The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation has joined with Philadelphia native Heidi Bressler, a contestant on last season’s The Apprentice, Ethan Zohn, Survivor: Africa winner to spread the word among Philadelphia residents about the importance of colorectal cancer screening. “Make Screening a Reality” is an educational program specifically designed to encourage young people to remind their parents and other loved ones aged 50 and older to get screened for colorectal cancer.
The campaign, comes to its pilot city, Philadelphia, at the start of Thanksgiving week, reflecting the United States Surgeon General’s recent call to action for families to increase dialogue about health issues while they are gathered together during the holidays — especially those health conditions like colorectal cancer that can run in families.
“Our goal with “Make Screening a Reality” is to reach greater Philadelphia with the crucial message that early detection of colorectal cancer saves lives,” said Carolyn Aldige, President and Founder of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation (CRPF). “We particularly want to start a dialogue with young adults, who often serve as medical advisors to parents and older loved ones. Both Heidi’s and Ethan’s personal interest in this cause, combined with their visibility and appeal among young adults make them credible voices that can truly elevate multigenerational awareness. We are delighted to collaborate with them on this program.”
Colorectal cancer is the most deadly cancer among non-smoking men and women in the U.S., with nearly 150,000 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2004. In the state of Pennsylvania alone, the American Cancer Society estimates more than 3,300 deaths from colorectal cancer and 8,750 new incidences of the disease this year. Reality television personalities Bressler and Zohn both have a personal commitment to the fight against colorectal cancer. Bressler’s mother is currently recovering after her cancer was diagnosed while Heidi was filming The Apprentice. Zohn’s father passed away after a battle with the disease, when Ethan was a teenager.
“The stress involved with competing on The Apprentice was nothing compared to the anxiety I felt when I learned of my mom’s colon cancer diagnosis,” Bressler said. “My Mom refused to get screened until her symptoms got so severe that we forced her to see her doctor. Her cancer had progressed to stage three but with rigorous treatment, her condition is stabilized. Not everyone is as lucky. That’s why I’m committed to helping people everywhere - starting here in my hometown — understand the life-saving role that screening and early detection can play.”
It is recommended that adults aged 50 and older should be regularly screened for colorectal cancer. Yet a recent study shows nearly half of this population has not received any type of screening. Many perceive the available tests to be invasive, inconvenient or inaccurate; while others do not have access to certain screening options. Early diagnosis of colorectal cancer results in a greater than 90 percent five-year survival rate; however,
when caught at a later stage, the survival rate drops to less than 50 percent.
“In the sixteen years since my father died of colorectal cancer I have learned much about life. I have learned to separate the important from the trivial and to celebrate every moment. My dad taught me this; I honor him by living each day fully and joyously and striving for hard-to-reach goals,” said Zohn. “Nothing will bring him back but I can work every day to encourage others to learn now what we didn’t know then about colon cancer. Celebrate your life…get screened for colorectal cancer.”
Bressler and Zohn, along with Carolyn Aldige of the CRPF will be making an appearance at The Bourse between Noon and 3:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 to provide an educational seminar and distribute educational materials on colorectal cancer.
“Colorectal cancer is a highly treatable disease if detected early,” said Aldige. “There are a number of tests available for patients, including new non-invasive options, such as fecal DNA testing, for those patients unwilling or unable to undergo other screening procedures. It is important for patients to discuss these options with their physician to determine which test is right for them.”
About Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation was started in 1985 when Founder and President Carolyn Aldige first understood the power of prevention to defeat cancer — and recognized that too few of the country’s resources were used to promote cancer prevention research or education. Today, it is one of the nation’s leading health organizations and has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. Since its inception the Foundation has provided more than $66 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research and education programs. CRPF peer-reviewed grants have been awarded to more than 250 scientists from more than 150 of the leading academic medical centers nationwide. This research has been pivotal in developing a body of
knowledge that is the basis for important cancer prevention and early detection strategies.
About EXACT Sciences Corporation
This local education campaign is made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from EXACT Sciences Corporation. EXACT Sciences is an applied genomics company that develops and commercializes proprietary DNA-based tests for the early detection of cancer. Its first commercial test, PreGen-Plus(TM), is a non-invasive fecal DNA test for the early detection of colorectal cancer in the average-risk population. Colorectal cancer, which is the most deadly cancer among non-smokers, is curable if detected early. Despite the availability of colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic tests for more than 20 years, the rate of early detection of colorectal cancer remains low, and deaths from colorectal cancer remain high. EXACT Sciences believes its genomics-based technologies will enable early detection of colorectal cancer so that more people can be effectively treated. Founded in 1995, EXACT Sciences is based in Marlborough, Mass. Detailed information on EXACT Sciences and PreGen-Plus can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.exactsciences.com and http://www.pregenplus.com.