What should I do to support Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month?

Today will not be the first time that you hear that March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  It also won’t be the last.  Since my sister was diagnosed 10 years ago, I’ve been trying to find my “role” and “responsibility” with “awareness” this month.  As the president of the Colon Cancer Coalition, I should have the secret knowledge of what it means to support “awareness” of colorectal cancer this month, right?  Wrong.

There is no special recipe to understand our roles in awareness months.  Our family didn’t have a clue in 2000 when our first March Colorectal Cancer Awareness month approached, but we decided to sponsor an existing rotary half-marathon on Mercer Island (Seattle).  When you love someone diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer, does it mean you:

• Become one of the top television news anchors and host week long series of stories?
• Start a foundation?
• Fight for local or national legislation?
• Run, bike or walk thousands of miles for cancer?
• Cook an extra meal for someone undergoing treatment?
• Insist on doing the household chores.
• Share a “story of hope” or a “forget me not” story on our website?
• Participate, sponsor, donate or volunteer in a “get your rear in gear” event?
• Join a support group or a team?
• Drive a friend to their colonoscopy or ensure that their kids get a ride to school?
• Learn the facts about colon cancer.
• Make the words “colon” and “colorectal” cancer everyday language at home?
• Change our diets and exercise regimens?

Giving of yourself in any capacity you have to offer means you’ve taken the initiative to change this disease and made a difference in “awareness.”  During these next thirty-one days, I challenge you and myself to be proud of any effort taken this month to increase awareness of colorectal cancer. This month and all year long, we can dramatically change the course of colorectal cancer through early detection.
“Get Your Rear in Gear” is bigger than just a message for colon cancer; it is a message for all of us to take action, lead longer healthier lives, go to the doctor regularly, to listen to our bodies when something isn’t right and to get the right answers, regardless of age.”  This March, take the time to ask yourself if you are “getting your rear in gear”.