March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
In 2022, it is estimated that approximately 151,030 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, making it the third most common cancer found in both men and women in the United States, according to the Colon Cancer Coalition. Leading an active and healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, and regular screening is key to detecting the disease early and improving chances of survival.
Through its FIT for Life program, Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute is committed to improving access to colorectal cancer screenings and education across the Charlotte region. During the coronavirus pandemic, the community program has provided 217 Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) to underserved, high-risk individuals and navigated 15 individuals through a free follow-up colonoscopy.
Thanks to ongoing charitable support from the Colon Cancer Coalition and other community partners, residents of Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, and Union Counties will continue to receive life-saving colorectal cancer screenings and follow-up care. The Colon Cancer Coalition has been a dedicated partner of Levine Cancer Institute since 2013, and its latest grant in the amount of $35,000 marks the organization’s largest contribution to the FIT for Life program.
The Colon Cancer Coalition’s annual Get Your Rear in Gear – Charlotte event will take place on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Event proceeds will support community screenings and education through Levine Cancer Institute’s FIT for Life program and other local beneficiaries. Please visit coloncancercoalition.org/charlotte to register or for more information.