This Friday celebrates Colon Cancer Awareness with  ‘Dress in Blue Day’!  The idea was originally created by Anita Mitchell, a stage IV colon cancer survivor who had lost a close friend and her own father to the disease. Greatly saddened by the fact that both of those tragedies could have been prevented, Ms. Mitchell saw a need to bring greater awareness to cancer that not many people wanted to discuss.

 

So, in 2006, she worked with her children’s school to coordinate a recognition day. That very year in March, students who normally had to wear uniforms to class were allowed to wear a blue outfit of their choice, if only they made a $1 donation to colon cancer awareness.

The ‘Dress in Blue Day’ was first launched in 2009 by the Colon Cancer Alliance in a nationwide campaign. It was introduced to raise awareness of colon cancer as well as to recognize the bravery of those suffering from the disease, and to honor the memory of loved ones lost to colon cancer and the perspective of a better future without the disease. With its actions, the Colon Cancer Alliance hopes to encourage people to become more interested in the potentially fatal threat that is colon cancer, by for example getting screened regularly in hopes of being able to detect any warning signs before the situation becomes much more serious.

 

Diagnosis of cases of colorectal cancer through screening tends to occur 2-3 years before the diagnosis of cases with symptoms, and thus screening has the potential to reduce colon cancer deaths by 60%.  It has been found, in fact, that most colorectal cancers should be preventable altogether, through increased surveillance and lifestyle changes, such as simple diet changes or an increase in the amount of physical activity an individual does, which makes prevention a truly important aspect.

 

Carmen Marc Valvo, an American fashion designer, partnered with the Colon Cancer Alliance in 2011 to promote Dress in Blue Day after hew own personal struggle with cancer.

 

SO…FRIDAY IS THE DAY!  Dress in BLUE everyone and share your pictures! Let’s kick colon cancer together!

 

This article in part and photo originated at DaysOfTheYear.com.