Recognizing March 2024 as "Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month," and promoting the public awareness of the risk of colon cancer.

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