MO HCR21

Designates May 2011 as "Colon Cancer Awareness Month" in Missouri to increase public awareness of colon cancer risk factors and prevention measures

Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States, affecting 1 in 20 adults with approximately 145,000 new cases diagnosed annually and an estimated 50,000 deaths per year

Early detection through screening colonoscopy can prevent most colon cancer since it typically begins as a polyp that develops over months or years before becoming cancer

Experts estimate colon cancer deaths could drop by 50% if all Americans age 50 and older followed American Cancer Society screening guidelines, yet less than 50% of cases are currently detected in the earliest stages

African Americans experience disproportionately higher colon cancer rates and mortality compared to other ethnic groups, making regular screening particularly important for this population