| tal cancer is 90 percent preventable and 90 | | | | Launched in 2004 to celebrate National Colorectal |
| percent treatable when detected early, yet it | | | | Cancer Awareness Month, the Buddy Bracelet |
| continues to be the second leading cause of | | | | reminds those who wear it to get screened for |
| cancer-related death in the United States. | | | | colorectal cancer. After the person is screened, |
| To help spread the message about the | | | | he or she gives the bracelet to a family member, |
| importance of early detection, the Cancer | | | | friend or colleague, passing on the powerful |
| Research and Prevention Foundation and its 54 | | | | message about talking with a health care |
| partners have joined together to celebrate | | | | professional about colorectal cancer. The bracelet |
| National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by | | | | then is transferred from that person to another |
| introducing the "Buddy Bracelet," a unique and | | | | person and so on. |
| powerful way to promote public awareness of | | | | The bracelet's theme, "Wear it, share it, because |
| the disease. | | | | you care," is a message that could save |
| "Today, in a sea of colored bracelets, the blue | | | | thousands of lives. |
| Buddy Bracelet stands out by creating a clever | | | | People at average risk forcolorectal cancer should |
| way for people to take their health into their own | | | | get screened starting at age 50. Younger people |
| hands," said Carolyn Aldigé, president and | | | | can help support the Buddy Bracelet effort by |
| founder of the Cancer Research and Prevention | | | | learning about their families' medical histories, |
| Foundation. "The bracelet spreads the message | | | | starting a dialogue about colorectal cancer with |
| that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and | | | | their health care professionals and reminding loved |
| beatable." | | | | ones to get screened. |