To the Editor:

National Dress in Blue Day takes place Friday, March 2 as part of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Dress in Blue Day is held annually in communities throughout the nation as a way to show support in the fight against colon cancer.

I’m taking part in Dress in Blue Day to promote colon cancer awareness, a disease that people rarely talk about. I’ve encouraged family, friends, businesses and community groups to get involved by wearing blue, the universal color of colon cancer.

Why is this so important? Because colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States and affects one in 19 people.

However, this is a cancer we can beat through the early detection and removal of colon polyps during routine screening. Polyps removed early enough never have a chance to develop into cancer. By talking about this disease and getting people to recognize the importance of being screened, we can virtually eradicate this disease.

There is help if you have no health insurance! St. Lawrence County Cancer Services Program is a free colorectal cancer screening program for men and women age 50-64, or earlier if you are high risk, that have no health insurance. Eligibility is determined over the phone by calling 315-386-2325.

Join me! Help save lives by dressing in blue and starting a conversation about colon cancer prevention.

Catherine Field, RN

Program Coordinator

St. Lawrence County

Cancer Services Program