Make That Call for Colon Cancer Screening is a health education campaign being held on March 1-31, 2012, to urge all New Yorkers 50 and older to Make That Call for Colon Cancer Screening.

As part of the Make That Call campaign, The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Entertainment Industry Foundation’s National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance are collaborating with the New York Citywide Colon Cancer Control Coalition (C5), American Cancer Society, American College of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and participating NYC businesses and organizations to help increase colon cancer awareness and screening.

How You Can Participate

Make That Call to your doctor!

1. If you are age 50 or older, we urge you to Make That Call to your doctor today to schedule an appointment for colon cancer screening. If you are younger than 50 but have risk factors that increase your risk for colorectal cancer, Make That Call to your doctor to discuss screening at a younger age. With appropriate screening and early detection, this disease is often preventable and highly curable. It's your call. And it could save your life.


2. After you Make That Call, tell us about it! Share your story by email, Facebook, or Twitter @NYPresbyterian and tell us that you Made That Call to your doctor to schedule your colon cancer screening appointment. Your story can inspire others to call and to get screened!

Download the PDF version

We thank the following businesses for their participation in this campaign to remind New Yorkers to Make That Call for Colon Cancer Screening and, ultimately, to save lives. Please visit any of these participating businesses for more information on colon cancer screening.

• Brooklyn Public Library
• Juva Skin & Laser Center/MediSpa
• New York Health & Racquet Club
• The Queens Library
• Duane Reade
• New York Public Library
• Talbots

Preventable, Treatable, & Beatable!

• Colorectal cancer, often referred to as colon cancer, is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States &151; but it doesn't have to be. This disease is largely preventable & highly curable with the recommended screening & early detection.

Risk Factors

• Colon cancer occurs in both men and women.
• Colon cancer may occur at any age, but the risk is increased in persons age 50 & older
• Medical factors that increase the risk of colon cancer include:
  • Personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer;
  • Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease;
  • Personal or family history of hereditary colon cancer syndromes (such as FAP or HNPCC).

Screening = Prevention & Early Detection

• Screening refers to testing that is done before symptoms are present.
• Screening tests allow the detection of early colon cancer when it is highly curable, as well as the detection of growths, called polyps, which can turn into cancer. In removing a pre-cancerous polyp, colon cancer can often be prevented.
• Women and men at average risk for colon cancer need to begin screening at age 50. American Cancer Society, US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and American College of Radiology joint screening recommendations for those at average risk include one of the following options, grouped by screening tests for both cancer & pre-cancerous polyps or for primarily cancer:


• Tests That Detect Both Polyps and Cancer
• Colonoscopy every 10 years; OR
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years; OR
• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years; OR
• Computed tomographic colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years.
• Tests That Detect Primarily Cancer
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) with high sensitivity for cancer, every year; OR
• Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) with high sensitivity for cancer, every year; OR
• Stool DNA test with high sensitivity for cancer (interval uncertain).
• According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, colonoscopy is the preferred colon cancer screening test in New York City. A colonoscopy allows for the detection and removal of pre-cancerous polyps and identification of early cancers during a single examination.
• Those who have certain risk factors—such as a family history of colorectal polyps or cancer; personal history of inflammatory bowel disease; or personal or family history of hereditary colon cancer syndromes—need to speak with their doctor about beginning screening at a younger age.

Symptoms

• Early colon cancer often has no symptoms at all. When present, symptoms may include: rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, narrowing of the stool, cramping pain in the abdomen, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss. If you have symptoms, please see your doctor promptly for evaluation and diagnosis.

Call Your Doctor

• Please, if you're 50 or older, call your doctor today to schedule your screening appointment.

For More Information

For more information on colon cancer screening, visit:

• The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
• American Cancer Society
• The New York City Department of Health and Hygiene at:
• English
• Spanish
• Chinese
• Russian

According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, colonoscopy is the preferred colon cancer screening test in New York City. A colonoscopy allows for the detection and removal of pre-cancerous polyps and identification of early cancers during a single examination. If you prefer another type of test for colon cancer, several other options are also available.

To make an appointment for colon cancer screening at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, please call:

• NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell: 877-902-2232
• NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia: 212-305-9633

To find a gastroenterologist in your area, check with your primary care physician or visit the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, or New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy websites and search by your area or zip code:

• American College of Gastroenterology
• American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

For information on low-cost or no-cost colonoscopy screening in New York City, call 311.

To find information on all types of colon cancer screening, please visit:

• The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
• American Cancer Society