American Cancer Society partners with local communities to raise awareness
By Melissa Rollins, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
March is colorectal cancer awareness month. In order to raise awareness Chinel Boateng, Community Manager for the American Cancer Society, is traveling around speaking to groups about the importance of yearly exams.
On Feb. 14, Boateng spoke before Society Hill Town Council.
“I’m here because I want to ask Society Hill to partner with the American Cancer Society in an effort to reduce colorectal cancer as a public health problem,” Boateng said. “March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. We have an initiative called 80 percent by 2018. What that is, is we are trying to 80 percent of adults 50 and older regularly screened for colorectal cancer by the year 2018; right now it is 64 percent.”
Boateng said that it is important to increase the number of people getting screenings.
“We know that if we can get it up to 80 percent by 2018, we will have saved over 200,000 lives,” Boateng said. “Colorectal cancer is a cancer that is slow moving and early detection can make it preventable and curable. The (important) thing is being screened. I have been talking to people, last year and the beginning of this year, because of the initiative that we have and one of the things I keep hearing is ‘Well, I can’t drink that stuff.’ If you have had a screening and I have, I’ve had two, that was the worst part of it.”
Getting past the horror stories of the preparation from friends and family and just making that appointment can possibly change someone’s life.
“For me, I didn’t feel any different when I got up from the table but people are losing their lives because they don’t want to drink the stuff,” Boateng said. “I’m here to tell you there are other tests. The best test is the one that is done; that is the best one. We could be saving lives.”
Using the resources available from the American Cancer Society, Boateng said, each community and community member can do something to increase awareness.
Things communities can do:
1) Rally and partner with physicians, healthcare providers, anyone in your area, to make it a priority in your community
2) Learn the communities colon cancer testing rate and set a goal to improve it
3) Leverage local dignitaries and leaders, local news anchors and respected religious leaders and partner with them to talk and educate the community about the importance of screenings
4) Committee to educate the community about colorectal testing options and reimbursements
“There are some people who just simply will not get it done, not matter what you say or do,” Boateng said. “But it is those ones who may not know that at the age of 50 you should have one done and those who don’t know that if your family has a history that your numbers are different; we can reach those people.”
Relay for Life of Darlington County event would take place May 5 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Byerly Park in Hartsville. Anyone interested in making a donation or forming a team can find more information at www.relayforlife.org/darlingtonsc or can contact Boateng at chinelboateng@cancer.org or 843-245-8538.