March was National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a program founded to generate widespread awareness about colorectal cancer by encouraging people to learn more about prevention and early detection of the disease. Colorectal cancer is currently the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but one of the most preventable of cancers.
The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, a clinical center of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, sponsored several events during the month of March to bring attention to this health threat. The following is a round-up of the events.
New York Scientific Symposium on Colorectal Cancer
Dr. Joseph Ruggiero, associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell, speaking at the Colorectal Cancer Symposium, March 2. Photo by Amelia Panico.
On March 2, Weill Cornell Medical College and The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health sponsored an all-day scientific CME symposium for medical professionals, entitled "New York Scientific Symposium on Colorectal Cancer: The Multidisciplinary Approach to Prevention, Screening, Treatment and Support."
Co-directed by Dr. Mark Pochapin, director of the Monahan Center, with Dr. Thomas Weber of Montefiore Medical Center and Dr. Sidney Winawer of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the symposium discussed new screening guidelines, surgical innovations, treatment strategies, and support resources for physicians and other health professionals. The event featured 17 faculty lecturers from seven separate medical institutions.
Third Annual Community Colon Cancer Prevention Day
On March 13, the Monahan Center provided a free community outreach and education fair on colorectal cancer screening and prevention in the York Avenue/70 Street courtyard. Nutritionists from the center provided colon-friendly food samples and recipes to reduce colon cancer risk, and exhibit tables featured important information on colon cancer screening and prevention from the Monahan Center, American Cancer Society, Colon Cancer Alliance, The Colon Club, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Cancer Prevention Program.
Taxicab Colon Cancer Screening Campaign
Dr. Mark Pochapin, associate professor of clinical medicine and director of the Jay Monahan Center, poses in one of the specially designated taxis with ads featuring cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn urging New Yorkers, "Don't be a chicken! Get screened!" Photo by Richard Lobell.
As part of a collaboration with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Taxi and Limousine Commission, and others, the Monahan Center teamed up with NYC's taxi drivers to remind New Yorkers to get screened for colon cancer. One component of the campaign features taxi-top advertisements on 100 taxis with the Foghorn Leghorn cartoon character reminding New Yorkers to get screened for colon cancer. In addition, all New York City taxicabs with electronic public information monitors installed will be showing a public-service video, developed by the Entertainment Industry Foundation's NCCRA (EIF's NCCRA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and featuring actor Jimmy Smits, promoting colon cancer screening. The outreach campaign is being conducted in collaboration with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, the EIF's NCCRA, the CDC, Clear Channel, and Warner Brothers. The campaign was kicked off on March 13 during Community Colon Cancer Prevention Day at the Monahan Center as five taxi cabs bearing the advertisements and videos took off into New York City.
Monahan Center–Colon Cancer Alliance "Conversations About Colorectal Cancer"
On Saturday, March 17, the Monahan Center partnered with the Colon Cancer Alliance to organize "Conversations About Colorectal Cancer: Finding Hope in Your Community," held at Weill Cornell for colorectal cancer survivors, caregivers, and friends. Additional seminars will be held by the Colon Cancer Alliance at various metropolitan areas throughout the country, including Los Angeles and Washington D.C.
The event's keynote speech was given by Dr. Mark Pochapin, director of the Monahan Center. Featured sessions included advances in treatment by Dr. Toyooki Sonoda, assistant professor of surgery at Weill Cornell; Dr. Jason Funderburk, assistant professor of radiology at Weill Cornell; and Dr. Allyson Ocean, assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell. The one-day seminar also featured sessions on psychosocial issues related to colorectal cancer, and survivor and caregiver forums for discussion.