San Diego, CA -- Today The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) announced a new education campaign aimed at reducing deaths from colorectal cancer among women. Colorectal cancer is the No. 2 cancer killer of adults in the US and the third leading cause of cancer death among women in the US, behind lung and breast cancers.

ACOG officials called upon ob-gyns to educate their patients about the importance of regular colorectal cancer screening. ACOG's partners in the campaign include The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American College of Gastroenterology. (See attachments for educational materials on colorectal cancer.)

"This initiative is about reaching out to women with an important life-saving message: Colorectal cancer is preventable; it's treatable; and it's beatable," said ACOG President Douglas W. Laube, MD, MEd. "This is an extremely vital theme because the benefits of colorectal cancer screening are not fully understood. People have a built-in denial system that says, 'This couldn't happen to me,' but we're talking about the ability to prevent a potentially lethal disease. That's pretty powerful, and that is the message we hope to get across to women.

"We want women to be as vigilant about getting tested for this disease as they are about getting their mammogram and Pap test," noted Dr. Laube. "Most women don't know that colorectal cancer is in fact a disease of women. Each year it takes the lives of nearly as many women as do ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers combined," he added.

In 2007 it is estimated that nearly 154,000 Americans—about the same number of women as men—will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer (often referred to as colon cancer). Despite the promising decline in colorectal cancer deaths in recent years, the disease will claim the lives of more than 52,000 Americans this year alone; of these deaths, more than 26,000 will be women.

"It is painfully apparent, with the nearly 75,000 new cases each year developing in women, that colorectal cancer is not just a 'man's disease.' Colorectal cancer is an equal opportunity killer, but with screening and early detection it can be prevented," said David A. Johnson, MD, president of the American College of Gastroenterology. "We are pleased to be part of this campaign. Women need to hear and heed the call to action to get screened for colorectal cancer," he noted.

Colorectal cancer is a slow-growing cancer that affects the cells in the colon and rectum and can spread to other parts of the body; its exact causes are unknown. "Perhaps the least understood aspect of colorectal cancer, and the most compelling, is the fact that colon cancer can be stopped before it starts if precancerous polyps are found and removed, thereby avoiding the disease completely," said Benjamin E. Greer, MD, chair of ACOG's Committee on Gynecologic Practice. "Screening, beginning at age 50, should definitely be added to a woman's 'to do list' if it isn't already a priority. It's really a no-brainer when you think about it. Screening should be automatic for everyone when they turn 50—just do it," he added.

The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. About nine out of 10 people with colorectal cancer are older than 50. ACOG recommends that all women age 50 and older be screened for colorectal cancer by one of the following methods:

Every Year		Every 5 Years		Every 10 Years
*Yearly patient-collected fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) must be done as a take-home kit. A stool test done during a doctor's visit is not adequate for the detection of colon cancer.	OR	*Flexible sigmoidoscopy (with or without annual FOBT or FIT) OR *Double-contrast barium enema	OR	*Colonoscopy

According to ACOG, women with the following risk factors should be screened earlier-before age 50—or more often: family history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps (a first-degree relative age 60 or younger at diagnosis or two or more first-degree relatives of any age); personal history of colorectal cancer, adenomatous polyps or inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease; or family history of colorectal cancer syndromes, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).

"When colorectal cancer is detected in its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is 90%. However, only 39% of colorectal cancers are detected at this early stage, largely because many individuals simply do not bother to get screened, often because they don't know how important it is, or they put it off because they don't want to bother with the prep work involved," said Dr. Greer. "The level of discomfort associated with screening is minimal, and the peace of mind you get is well worth any discomfort," he added.

"While most women are aware of the importance of breast and cervical cancer screening, only about 50% of women undergo the recommended screening for colorectal cancer," said Mark B. Pochapin, MD, director of The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Public Relations Committee chair. "With ACOG's leadership, we hope to see an increase in colorectal cancer awareness and screening in women. With regular screening, colorectal cancer is highly curable and even preventable—in women and men," he noted.

The medical groups strongly emphasize that women should not wait until symptoms develop to be screened. The fact is, colorectal cancer may have no symptoms. Signs and symptoms often occur only, but not necessarily, when the cancer is more advanced. As colorectal cancer progresses, the disease may cause the following symptoms: a persistent change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days; bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool; cramping pain in the abdomen; unexplained weight loss; and weakness and fatigue.

"The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recognizes the close relationship between women and their ob-gyns. Studies indicate that a doctor's advice is the single most important factor in persuading individuals to be screened. ASGE is pleased to partner with ACOG to deliver the message to women that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable through proper screening," said John L. Petrini Jr, MD, ASGE Membership Committee chair.

"Both the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF's NCCRA) and our partner at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are delighted to contribute to this effort," said NCCRA Co-Founder Katie Couric, who is featured in the "Picture of Health" exam room poster provided as part of this initiative. "Ob-gyns' recommend-ations are critically important in motivating their patients to take preventive health measures, so we're thrilled to be able to participate in this campaign to help raise awareness and increase colon cancer screening among women," Couric said.

"ACOG is extremely proud to join forces with the leading specialists in gastrointestinal health in this educational effort," said Dr. Laube. "This campaign is a unique opportunity for our specialty to make a difference and call attention to a leading cancer killer among women. We salute our partners for helping us to advance women's health," he added.

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