Dress in Blue Day

Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a condition in which abnormal cells appear and grow in the lining of the large intestine, colon, or rectum. Both men and women are at risk for this disease. According to survey data in the US, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in this country. However, if detected early, doctors can cure colorectal cancer. To raise everyone's awareness of this dangerous disease, March 5 is celebrated as Dress In Blue Day. As a campaign of the Colon Cancer Coalition.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, develops from the inner lining of the intestine. Depending on where the cancer starts, bowel cancer may be called colon or rectal cancer. It is the second most common cancer in both men and women and is more common in people over the age of 50.

Bowel cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the intestinal tract. It is usually formed from an intestinal polyp. If not detected in time, this polyp can grow, increase in size, damage the mucosa and surrounding tissue, lead to blood infection or turn to cancer.

Through the actual treatment process, doctors said that for many causes of bowel cancer, besides genetics from the family, there are many causes caused by daily living habits. You should be careful with the following factors:

Age: Bowel cancer usually occurs in people 60 years of age and older. However, at present, the disease is tending to be younger, the age of this disease is increasingly narrowing.

Diet - a diet high in red or processed meat and low in fiber and vitamins may increase the risk of bowel cancer.

Obesity - the disease is more common in people who are overweight or obese. Ingesting too much fat can change hormones in the body, leading to disorders in the regeneration and growth of cells.

Drinking and smoking – heavy drinking and smoking can increase your risk of bowel cancer. The toxic substances in alcohol and tobacco can penetrate directly through the intestinal lining. If this process happens often, it can damage the lining or lead to cancer.

Family history - having a close relative (mother or father, brother, sister) who developed bowel cancer under age 50 puts you at higher risk of developing the condition. If you are in this condition, you should have screening tests twice a year

Bowel cancer symptoms

Symptoms of bowel cancer often appear at an earlier stage than other cancer groups. However, these signs are often unclear or confusing with gastrointestinal diseases. If the body has the following signs for a long time, you should see a specialist to understand the cause and have timely treatment:

Change in digestive habits: This may include persistent diarrhea or constipation. When a tumor occurs in the intestinal tract it can interfere with the digestion and absorption of nutrients from food in the digestive system. Leads to common digestive disorders such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation

Blood in the stool: This can happen when the tumor is large, compressing, causing damage and bleeding in the intestinal lining, leading to blood in the stool.

Abdominal pain, gas, bloating: This is a common symptom in bowel cancer patients, but it is often confused with other digestive diseases, so patients often ignore it.

Anemia: The patient has dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and a sharp decrease in the percentage of red blood cells. The cause may be because the tumor damages the mucosal layer, causing bleeding and preventing blood circulation to other organs in the body.

History of Dress In Blue Day

Anita Mitchell was the first to come up with the Dress In Blue Day idea after she lost a close friend and her father to colon cancer. So saddened by this loss, while this disease can be prevented without leaving such sad consequences, Anita Mitchell wants to raise awareness of cancer in everyone around without Who wants this, and especially, Anita Mitchell wishes to be able to limit the sad consequences of this disease.

In 2006, Anita Mitchell went to her child's school and coordinated the organization of a blue dress recognition day to raise awareness about colon cancer. One day in March, students at Anita Mitchell's son's school wore blue instead of their school uniform.

Dress in Blue Day was first launched by the Colon Cancer Coalition in 2009. With the goal of raising awareness and recognizing the bravery of people with this colon cancer. Blue, the blue star was chosen to symbolize hope and memory of those who have lost loved ones to this disease.

Observing Dress in Blue Day

To celebrate Dress in Blue Day, raise awareness about colon cancer. Join Colorectal Cancer Alliance's websites and activities to learn and share about Colon Cancer. This colon cancer can be prevented with early detection and preventive measures. Share your info with the hashtag #DressInBlueDay.