Today is Go Blue Day in Alabama, an effort to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and to motivate people to talk to their doctors about screening options. Many Alabamians wore blue in support and shared photos and stories of inspiration on social media.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, even though it doesn’t have to be. When adults are screened for colorectal cancer, it can be prevented altogether or detected early when treatment is most likely to be successful.

About 1 in 3 adults age 50 and older – almost 40 million people – are not getting tested as the American Cancer Society recommends. On top of that, there’s an alarming trend of the number of cases of colorectal cancer rising in adults younger than 50. In fact, ACS now recommends screenings to begin at age 45 for people who are at average risk.

For more information about colorectal cancer, visit cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345. Additional resources are available at NCCRT.org.

 

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Today is GO BLUE DAY! I spent it with my friends at @bcbsofalabama and yesterday with @uab_employee_wellness Show your support for colorectal cancer awareness and screenings by wearing blue and tagging those who need to get screened. Colorectal cancer is highly treatable if caught at an early stage and is one of the few cancers that can often be prevented through screening, now starting at age 45!#ColonCancerCanBePrevented so call your doctor today about screening options and encourage your family and friends to do the same. #GetItScreened #AttackingCancer #45isthenew50 @southregion_acs_cancercontrol @acs_alabama

A post shared by Angela Lee Davis (@adavisau) on Mar 6, 2020 at 1:07pm PST

💙💙Today #GoBlue @AmericanCancer!#ColonCancerCanBePrevented so call your Dr. about screening options & encourage your family & friends! #GetScreened #AttackingCancer @ACS_Alabama💙👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/iiybsn2fxA

— Margen Gadd (@MargenGadd) March 6, 2020