Press Releases

March 23, 2011

Profiles Series Featuring the Colon Cancer Alliance to Air Nationwide

Program to Focus on Colon Cancer and the Colon Cancer Alliance’s Efforts to Bring Greater Awareness to the Disease

Washington, DC (March 23, 2011) –– The Colon Cancer Alliance today announced that the organization would be featured on the March 28, 2011 episode of the Profiles  Series, hosted by Lou Gossett Jr.  The focus is on the Colon Cancer Alliance and the work they are doing to help combat colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The program will air nationwide on the Discovery Channel at 7 a.m. EST and PST.*

“March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which provides us with a great opportunity to openly discuss the disease and educate the public about colon cancer,” said Andrew Spiegel, chief executive officer of the Colon Cancer Alliance.  “We are thrilled to cap off the month with the Profiles Series feature on colon cancer, where we stress the importance of being screened to help save lives and discuss steps people can take to help eradicate this disease.”

“We are excited about this opportunity to educate our viewers on this import issue,” stated Walter Waiters, Executive Producer of the Profiles Series

Dr. Edith Mitchell, an Oncologist at Thomas Jefferson University & member of the Colon Cancer Alliance’s Medical Science Advisory Committee is a featured speaker in the program.   During the segment, she emphasizes that people can greatly reduce their risk of colon cancer through routine screening tests starting at age 50.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. More than 50,000 Americans will die from colon cancer this year and it is estimated that 142,000 new cases will be diagnosed during the same time period. Through recommended screenings, this cancer can be caught early when treatment is most effective — or even prevented altogether when pre-cancerous polyps are detected and removed. Talking with your doctor about colon cancer is essential to ensuring optimal screening, prevention, early detection, and treatment.

The Profiles Series aims to create quality programming that will educate and enlighten viewers.  The series covers a variety of topics ranging from health and medical to business and environmental with a goal of helping companies and organizations educate consumer and business professionals on issues that impact them on multiple levels.

* (Profiles Television Productions purchases the airtime from the network).  The Colon Cancer Alliance also wishes to thank Amgen Oncology for funding the production costs for this project.

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The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is the oldest and largest national patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer. In order to increase rates of screening and survivorship, the CCA provides patient support, public education, supports research and conducts advocacy work across the United States.

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