WHEREAS, March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; and
WHEREAS, Colorectal cancer, or CRC, is the third most common and lethal cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States and it remains one of the deadliest cancers in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 2024, an estimated 152,810 cases of
CRC
will be diagnosed in the United States, and a total of 53,010 people will die from this cancer; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that there will be 6,550 new colon cancer cases and 2,230 deaths in Pennsylvania this year from this deadly disease; and
WHEREAS, CRC is one of the most highly preventable forms of cancer because screening tests can find polyps-tiny growths within the colon or rectum-that can be removed before becoming cancerous; and
WHEREAS, Screening tests can detect
CRC
early, when treatment is most effective; and
WHEREAS,
CRC
screening rates in Philadelphia are suboptimal
with
one quarter of Philadelphians
not being
screened for colorectal cancer; and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society and United States Prevention Services Task Force estimates that if every individual aged 45 or older had regular screening tests, as many as 60 percent of deaths from CRC could be prevented; and
WHEREAS,
CRC
screenings can effectively reduce CRC incidence and mortality, however 1 in 3 adults over 50 years of age are not up to date with recommended CRC screening; and
WHEREAS, The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has partnered with
faith-based community
and
nonprofit organizations
, including the Philadelphia 76ers, in efforts to increase CRC screening awareness and access to free fecal immunochemical test (“FIT”) which helps to reduce the burden of this disease among Philadelphia residents; and
WHEREAS, “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month” is observed in March to highlight the importance of screening for CRC, as well as to promote healthy lifestyle habits that can decrease a person’s risk of developing colorectal cancer; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognizes
March 2024 as “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.”
End