--This is a BIG disease.  As many people will die this year of colorectal cancer
as from breast cancer and AIDS combined.  One out of 18 people in this country
will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

--It affects men and women equally, and is fairly equally distributed across race and ethnicity.

--75% of people diagnosed have no family history of the disease.

--The most common symptom of colorectal cancer is no symptom at all.
Most people have no idea they have this cancer until it has spread to
other parts of the body.

--Despite its prevalence, this cancer is almost completely preventable.
Simply by getting screened, a person can lower their risk by 80% or more.
This does not involve a lifestyle change, a new diet, a new exercise regimen.
It merely requires getting screened.

--Still, most people aren’t screened when they should be.  Many barriers to
screening have been identified, but I am convinced that they all boil down to
one truth:  People are increasingly aware that screening is important, but they
don’t believe at a visceral level that it is important for them.