Colon Cancer Awareness Month

I lost my wife to colon cancer nearly three years ago. Joyce was 49 years old. She was an incredible human being and touched many lives. The day she received her diagnosis, her desire was to be the poster-child for early detection. Everyone of her friends that she talked to before she died, she encouraged to 'get their butt checked'. A lot of them did. Some had polyps--that's what eventually leads to cancer. I know she saved lives. In her memory I posted US Congressman Dan Boren's recent post highlighting colon cancer awareness month.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ok02_boren/2008_03_13_colorectal_month.html


Office of Congressman Dan BorenUnited States CongressHouse of Representatives
For Immediate Release:Thursday, March 13, 2008

Contact:Cole Perryman(202) 225-2701
BOREN HIGHLIGHTS COLORECTAL CANCER MONTH ON HOUSE FLOOR

WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren rose today to commemorate the month of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Boren has also authored the Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection Coverage Act, H.R. 3060, which would require insurance companies cover the costs of the very successful early detection and screening procedures. The following is a transcript on Boren’s floor remarks:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of access to colorectal cancer screening for all Americans. The month of March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Like far too many other Americans, my life has been touched by cancer. Nine years ago, I lost my mother, Janna, to colon cancer. I understand too well the importance of catching this type of cancer early.
Colorectal Cancer is a leading killer in the United States that will, this year, unnecessarily take the lives of almost 50,000 of our constituents nationwide. This is a tragedy because we have every tool necessary to prevent the suffering and death from this disease.
Only 22 states and DC have protections in place to provide access to screening and early detection procedures for colorectal cancer. This is unacceptable. Lifesaving tests that are this widely available and reliable should be accessible to each and every one of our constituents.
Please join me in recognizing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the importance of making early detection of this disease a priority.”
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