It’s Colon Cancer Awareness Month! I mean there couldn’t be a better reason to celebrate…I was going to make a joke, but I will let you interpret.
Let’s review some quick facts about colon cancer:
- In 2024, over 152,000 people will be diagnosed with colon cancer.
- Of those 152,000, 53,000 will die.
- 1 in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
- Colon cancer is on the rise in young people, UNDER THE AGE OF 50, by one to two percent each year.
So why do I still care, because I have a remission status:
- I still care, because I still have one more year before my oncology team says I am out of the woods or the time that reoccurrence is seen. Two years is the window, I have made it through year one with flying colors.
- I will undergo monitor for another three years after that.
- My family has Lynch syndrome. 10-15% of all cancers are hereditary.
- And, the fact that colorectal cancer is not on the decline, I want everyone to check their colons. Prevention is the best method of prevention.
I am one of the lucky ones.
I didn’t have to have chemo or radiation. Surgery took a foot of my colon, but it was able to prove that the tumor, aka we called Lucifer, hadn’t spread. Lucifer was donated to science; I hope the researchers had a good time with him.
Throughout the month I will be sharing (more than I already do) information about colon cancer, Lynch syndrome and doing some fundraising for more research!
CHECK YOUR COLON!
The first fun-raiser is with my dear friend Dani, if you want some of her amazing cookies, go snag yours today. They are going fast! Proceeds will benefit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
