PBMC Health is teaming up with local businesses to paint the town blue in March to raise awareness about the importance of colon cancer screening and early detection during Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
During Main Streets Go Blue, businesses will decorate in blue and engage employees and customers with posters, giveaways and educational material provided by the American Cancer Society, the Cancer Services Program of Suffolk County and PBMC Health. Businesses like Tanger Outlets will encourage their stores to offer a special discount during the weeklong campaign; The Hyatt Place East End will be changing its outside lighting to blue, and The Riverhead Project will be offering a special drink called “Bottoms Up.”
“Colon cancer is one of the only cancers that can be detected and prevented through screening before it even starts. With the support of local businesses, we can help spread this lifesaving message,” Dr. Clare Bradley of the American Cancer Society said. “We are also working together to provide resources and support for families, friends and loved ones dealing with a colon cancer diagnosis. We are not just providing information – we are providing help and hope.”
To introduce businesses to this life-saving campaign a Main Streets Go Blue kick-off breakfast will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014 at 8 a.m. at the Hyatt Place East End on East Main Street in Riverhead. Businesses will learn how they can participate and show their support for the quality of life we all share here in the Riverhead community. In addition to saving lives and making the population aware of the importance of screening, businesses in the community benefit as well. Screening and early detection have proven effective in increased employee morale, reduction in workers’ compensation claims, reducing illness and absenteeism, and increased productivity.
Only about 50 percent of insured adults aged 50-75 are up-to-date with colon cancer screening and for those who are uninsured that number drops to 36 percent.
“The risk of colon cancer increases with age, by encouraging everyone 50+ to get screened is a proactive step in the prevention of colon cancer,” Andrew Mitchell, president & CEO of PBMC Health and Peconic Bay Medical Center said. “Engaging businesses in championing preventive care is an essential collaboration towards decreasing late-stage diagnosis and increasing survivorship.”
Annually 25,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with breast, cervical or colorectal cancer and approximately 6,000 men and women in N.Y. die each year from these cancers.
Early detection of cancer improves treatment options, increases the chance for successful treatment and improves survival rates. Dr. Brett Ruffo, board-certified colorectal surgeon, lost his father to colorectal cancer and has a passion for the fight against this disease. “The only known cure for colorectal cancer is early detection,” Ruffo said.
“Education is a team effort and has to go beyond just the physicians and clinical staff; it has to reach the community. With community outreach we increase awareness resulting in prompt diagnosis and more effective treatment,” Ruffo said. “With appropriate screening and treatment, colon cancer is not only preventable in some cases, but is very treatable and often curable. The goal is early detection.”
Tanger Outlets, which has long promoted breast cancer awareness, is championing the Go Blue campaign as well, said Tanger Outlets general manager Janine Nebons.
“Main Streets Go Blue affords Tanger Outlets the added opportunity to connect with other businesses in a collaborative goal of providing support and promoting public awareness about colon cancer with the end-result of empowering others with information that can save lives,” Nebons said.
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