Over the past decade, the Colon Cancer Coalition has gratefully shared over 350 colorectal cancer stories through Faces of Blue. These stories have been shared by individuals touched by colorectal cancer. As we enter the 11th year of this series, we are thankful to again partner with Salix Pharmaceuticals (“Salix”), the gastroenterology (GI) business of Bausch Health Companies Inc. We look forward to working with them for the second consecutive year as we continue to share the importance of colorectal cancer screenings. As a sponsor, Salix helps highlight these personal stories and encourage preventive colorectal cancer screening.
In May 2021, the United States Preventive Services Task Force lowered the colorectal cancer screening age to 45 from 50, matching the American Cancer Society’s guidelines that were released in 2018. This means approximately 45 million Americans are now eligible for this potentially life-saving screening. This new guidance emphasizes the need for awareness programs to educate patients about risk factors and the importance of on-time screening for early detection.
“Personal stories resonate and can help influence behavior,” notes Chris Evans, president, Colon Cancer Coalition. “Over the last decade the Colon Cancer Coalition has shared stories to encourage screening for colorectal cancer. Now that the recommended screening age has been lowered to age 45, there is a new group of people who need to hear this life-saving message.”
“Salix and the Colon Cancer Coalition are teaming up to help reduce the impact of colorectal cancer on the at-risk population by encouraging preventative screening that can lead to early detection,” said Robert Spurr, president, Salix. “We’re honored to support the Faces of Blue story series, and we are launching new resources and social media partnerships to encourage and empower patients to take preventive action for their health by scheduling a colonoscopy.”
The 2022 #FacesOfBlue story series will be published regularly throughout Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and semi-monthly throughout the rest of the year. These stories are posted to the Colon Cancer Coalition’s website and will then be shared by both the Coalition and Salix on social media accounts.
Find and share these stories by searching #FacesOfBlue on social media. Then follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn so they show up in your feed!
