Riverhead -- Suffolk County Health Commissioner James Tomarken joined doctors and representatives from Cancer Services of Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Cancer Prevention and Health Promotion Coalition at Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) to mark March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Suffolk County.
After touring the giant simulated colon situated in the lobby of Peconic Bay Medical Center and discussing concerns about this leading preventable cause of death, Dr. Tomarken signed the Suffolk County’s pledge to help increase colorectal cancer screening rates by supporting the 80% by 2018 initiative.
Colorectal cancer is the nation’s second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths, yet it is a cancer that can be prevented. In 2015, 132,700 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed nationwide. In Suffolk County, there are 750 new cases of colorectal cancer and 260 deaths on average each year.
“Colorectal cancer screening has been proven to save lives,” said Dr. Tomarken. “In support of the statewide and national goals to screen at least 80% of age and risk-appropriate men and women for colorectal cancer, we call on residents of Suffolk County to raise their awareness of colorectal cancer and take preventive steps to safeguard their health and that of their loved ones from this disease.”
“Colorectal cancer in its early stages often has no symptoms, so everyone 50 and older should get tested,” said Dr. Mark Coronel, Director of Endoscopy at PBMC. “Exams are quick and completely painless, and they save lives. There are several screening options – even take-home options –available.”
“Adults age 50 and older should be regularly screened for colorectal cancer, but we have found that many people aren’t getting tested for a number of reasons: they fear the procedure or the diagnosis, they don’t believe they are at risk, or don’t think they can afford it,” said Dr. Brett Ruffo, the Director of Colorectal Surgical Services at PBMC.
The “80% by 2018” initiative, organized by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCR), has received commitments from over seven hundred organizations, including New York State, to substantially reduce colorectal cancer as a major public health problem. The initiative is working toward the goal of 80% of adults aged 50 and older being regularly screened for colorectal cancer by 2018. The screening rate in New York is currently 69.3 %, while 1,314,200 eligible New York residents still need to obtain screening. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) –founders of the NCCR-- are rallying organizations to embrace this shared goal.
Most health insurance plans cover lifesaving preventive tests. Use the health benefits you are paying for to get screened for colon cancer. Call your doctor today. For those who are uninsured or underinsured, the Cancer Services Program Partnership in Suffolk County provides colorectal, breast and cervical cancer screening. Suffolk County residents may call (631) 548-6320 for more information or visit NYSDOH Cancer Services Program call www.health.ny.gov/diseases/cancer/screening/
Screening is important as is diet and physical activity. According to the American Institute for Research on Cancer, 50% of US colorectal cancers (about 68,400 cases) could be prevented by eating healthy, being active and maintaining a healthy weight. To learn more, visit http://www.aicr.org/continuous-update-project/colorectal-cancer.html
To learn about cancer resources, visit the Suffolk County Cancer prevention and Health Promotion Coalition website at www.suffolkcountynmy.gov/cancerawareness
To learn more about the “80% by 2018” initiative, visit www.nccrt.org/.
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