March marked Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and with colorectal cancer the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women, Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center providers held a public awareness event on the last day of the month on Friday, March 31, at its Moses campus on 210th Street in Norwood to raise awareness of this type of cancer.

 

The “Rollin’ Colon” a 20-foot long, 12-foot high, 10-foot wide, pink inflatable, walk-through reproduction of the human colon, had the desired effect stopping passersby in their tracks as they took in the unusual sight. Later, they were able to walk through the structure and get educated about polyps and other possible signs of colon cancer. They were also encouraged to sign up for colorectal cancer screening.

 

According to Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center officials, in The Bronx alone, around 600 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year. They said that, alarmingly, the center is seeing a sharp uptick in this cancer among people younger than age 50. They hoped the Rollin’ Colon, which somewhat resembled a Chinese dragon, helped raise awareness of colorectal cancer and helped educate people to sign people up for screening.

 

“Unlike most cancers, colorectal cancer can be prevented and treated with early detection,” the cancer center officials said, as they signed people up for screenings and provided at-home tests also.

According to the center’s cancer experts, Black and Hispanics are at significantly greater risk of early onset disease. In addition to colonoscopies, last year, officials from the center said it has expanded its stool-based test offerings, including fecal immunochemical tests (FIT Tests), the only “tier 1” testing option, along with colonoscopies, recommended by the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on colorectal cancer.

 

“We want everyone to be aware of these services and to sign up to get screened,” the center’s health experts said. “We’re also driving people to call our Colorectal Cancer Screening Program at 718-920-7183.”