Get "geared up" for St. Patty's day and help us continue the fight against cancer!  With every purchase made at the American Cancer Society Gift Shop, we're working to save lives by helping people get well and stay well, by finding cures, and by fighting back! 

Now, through March 17th, save up to 15% on select green items!  Go to www.acsgiftshop.com to shop now.

  March is National Colorectal Cancer Awarenss Month

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. You can significantly reduce your risk with regular colon cancer screening, and by watching your weight and being physically active.  Regular screening is the best way to find colon cancer early. Some screening tests may even be able to prevent colon cancer entirely, by finding certain types of polyps in the colon that could become cancerous.

Researchers have found several risk factors that may increase a person's chance of developing colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.

Age -Younger adults can develop colorectal cancer, but the chances increase markedly after age 50. More than 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are older than 50.

Personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer - If you have a history of adenomatous polyps (adenomas), you are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. This is especially true if the polyps are large or if there are many of them.

If you have had colorectal cancer, even though it has been completely removed, you are more likely to develop new cancers in other areas of the colon and rectum. The chances of this happening are greater if you had your first colorectal cancer when you were younger.

Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease, is a condition in which the colon is inflamed over a long period of time. If you have IBD, your risk of developing colorectal cancer is increased, and you may need to be screened for colorectal cancer starting at an earlier age and on a more frequent basis.

Inflammatory bowel disease is different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which does not carry an increased risk for colorectal cancer.

Family history of colorectal cancer - Most colorectal cancers occur in people without a family history of colorectal cancer. Still, as many as 1 in 5 people who develop colorectal cancer have other family members who have been affected by this disease.

People with a history of colorectal cancer in one or more first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, or children) are at increased risk. The risk is about doubled in those with a single affected first-degree relative. It is even higher if the first-degree relative is diagnosed at a young age, or if more than one first-degree relative is affected. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you should talk with your doctor about the possible need to begin screening before age 50.

The reasons for the increased risk are not clear in all cases. Cancers can "run in the family" because of inherited genes, shared environmental factors, or some combination of these. 

Racial and ethnic background - African Americans have the highest colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates of all racial groups in the United States. The reasons for this are not yet understood.

Please talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about your physical health.

A Video Diary by Steve Harvey

Comedian Steve Harvey understands the importance of getting screened for colon cancer. Watch this video diary of Steve Harvey as he undergoes a colonoscopy. The purpose of the video is to inform, inspire, and encourage African American men and women to take charge of their health. The video is also designed to deliver the life-saving message that cancer is not a death sentence, that most cancers the cause deaths in the African American community can be prevented or cured if caught early.

Relay For Life of Hillsboro 2010
"Fairytale Farewell to Cancer"

What will your fairytale be?