March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
While colorectal cancer in children is usually rare and occurs in about one in 1 million children, it is often part of an inherited syndrome that causes the disease. Inherited conditions such as Lynch syndrome, Cowden syndrome, Turcot syndrome, Familial adenomatous polyposis, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Juvenile polyposis syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis, or MYH-associate polyposis increases the risk of a child developing colon cancer during childhood.
Colorectal cancer is the third most frequent cancer in adult men and the second most common cancer in adult women, but there are generally less than 100 cases of colorectal cancer in children who are under the age of 20. However, colorectal cancer in children is possible, and the entire month of March is meant to spread awareness about colorectal cancer so that people of all ages can be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease.
Wear Blue On Friday, March 7
In February 2000, President Clinton dedicated March as National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Since 2004, a Blue Star symbol has been used to spread colon cancer awareness but it also represents the lives lost due to colon cancer and the hope for a future free of the disease. On Friday, March 7, people are asked to wear blue to show support and raise awareness on Dress in Blue Day, a day dedicated to the kick start of National Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
In addition to wearing blue on Friday, March 7, you may also consider car donation charities such as Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish. While colorectal cancer is rare in children, it can still happen. Thankfully, Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 who are battling critical illnesses. Your car donation can grant the wishes of local children in your community, and you also get a great car donation tax deduction. To donate a vehicle, please call 1-855-278-9474 or online donation form.
Don’t Have A Car To Donate? You Can Still Make A Difference
If you don’t have a car to donate to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-A-Wish, there are still other ways to help Make-A-Wish or to spread colon cancer awareness. Benefit Make-A-Wish through general donations or donating airline miles, or participate in a Walk For Wishes event near you.
If you wish to make a difference in the future of colorectal cancer this month, be sure to participate in Dress in Blue Day by wearing blue and by spreading awareness all month long. You may also wish to participate in the Colon Cancer Alliance’s Get Blued! Photo Contest. If you wear blue on March 7 or anytime during the month of March, we would love to see your blue photos as well. Please share your photos on our Facebook, Twitter or Google+ pages.
Another way to get involved during National Colorectal Awareness Month is through the Colon Cancer Alliance’s Undy 500 or the Colon Cancer Coalition’s Get Your Rear In Gear events. With your car donation or your participation in any of our suggested events, you can make a difference this March!
Currently, there are more than one million colon cancer survivors in the United States. With your help in spreading awareness and encouraging others to get screened this March, you can save lives.
