Welcome to Mission Matters for March, 2008. March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

As part of our monthly Mission Matters series, we have this blog and our Mission Matters conference call, which is Tuesday, March 11 at Noon ET and 8:30 PM ET. To join the conference call, please dial 1-800-910-2399/passcode: 487160.

Colorectal cancer has been known as the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States - and yet it is highly preventable. This month is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so learn the facts and get tested. It could save your life.

An estimated 55,170 people died from colorectal cancer, commonly called colon cancer, in 2006. That's a number the American Cancer Society is working to reduce. The Society recommends adults aged 50 and older get tested for the disease. People with colon cancer in their families may need to start getting tested when they are younger. Both men and women are at risk, and 90 percent of cases are diagnosed in people older than 50. Many people may be afraid of getting tested - yet the test can save your life.

Colon cancer survivor James Sears urges people to get tested regularly. "Get routine checkups. Talk to your doctor and be honest, so you can catch a problem early," he said. "I wasn't honest at first, because it was a topic I didn't want to talk about. Basically, get over it: it could save your life."

There are several different screening tests to determine if you have any precancerous polyps, or small growths on the lining of the colon or rectum that could lead to cancer. Finding and removing polyps before they become cancerous can stop colon cancer before it starts. These tests are typically quick and are always done with your privacy in mind. Colonoscopies, for example, use a flexible tube with a video camera to allow a doctor to see inside the colon for any polyps, or growths. If the doctor finds a polyp, it can usually be removed during the test.

Other colon cancer tests include a fecal occult blood test, fecal immunochemical test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, a double-contrast barium enema, and possibly some others. You don't need all these tests - just one, unless something abnormal is found. Talk to your doctor about which test is right for you. Anyone who is at increased risk for colon cancer should talk with a doctor about more frequent testing.

If colon cancer is found early, the survival rate is 90 percent. Yet only 39 percent of colon cancers are found at this early stage. For colon cancer found in its latest stages, the five-year survival rate is just 10 percent. Don't wait for signs or symptoms to go to the doctor - get tested today and prevent colon cancer before it starts.

Colon Cancer Quick Tips

• One of the most powerful weapons in preventing colon cancer is regular testing. If it is caught early, the disease can be stopped before it starts. For more information about colon cancer, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit us online at www.cancer.org.

• If you or someone you know has been touched by cancer, you can count on the American Cancer Society for accurate information. We can help you make informed decisions and support you and your loved ones during this difficult time. Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

• Colon cancer is preventable if precancerous polyps are found and removed. And if colon cancer is found and treated at an early stage, it can almost always be cured, with a 90 percent five-year survival rate. Yet only 39 percent of colon cancer cases are diagnosed at an early, localized stage.

• African Americans have the highest colorectal cancer rates and the highest rate of death from the disease of any racial group in the United States.

• You can reduce your risk of colon cancer by quitting tobacco, eating right, maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting the consumption of alcohol and high-fat foods, and becoming more physically active.

Your American Cancer Society has many tools and resources to help you learn more about colon cancer, healthy options for improving your nutrition and physical activity and tips for talking with your doctor about appropriate cancer screenings. Be sure to visit www.RelayForLife.org and click on the Fight Back icon on the home page to learn ways you can Fight Back against Colon Cancer!