medical advisory board colorectal supported community-wide by

Providing community outreachand raising public awareness of the impact of colorectal canceron our lives and in society

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is supported community-wide by individual, corporate and foundation gifts, including:

•donationsresultingfromcommunity fundraisers;

•directgifts;and

•donationsmadeinhonororinrecognitionofalovedone.

Please help us educate the community about colon cancer and support research and treatment initiatives at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Medical Center by contacting the UMass Medical School/UMass Memorial Development Office at 508-856-5520 or giving@umassmed.edu.

Donate by mail:MakecheckpayabletoUMassMedicalSchool.Noteinthememosectionofthecheck,“ColorectalCancerAlliance.”

Mailcheckto:UMassMedicalSchool/UMassMemorialDevelopmentOffice333SouthStreetShrewsbury,MA01545

Donate online:Visithttp://umassmed.edu/foundation.Click Make a Gift.InStep1,DirectMyGift,click“Other”boxandtypeCCACMin“Comments”box.Questions,pleasecontact508-856-5520orgiving@umassmed.edu.

MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD

Representing talented physicians specializing in internal medicine, surgery, gastroenterology and oncology.

JeanMarieHoughton,MD,PhDRobertA.Klugman,MDStephenLyle,MD,PhDJustinA.Maykel,MDRashmiV.Patwardhan,MDRandallS.Pellish,MDBilalPiperdi,MDW.BrianSweeney,MDWahidY.Wassef,MD,MPH

ADVISORY BOARD

Comprised of patients, caregivers and community volunteers

SamCorbittMicheleDilley,AmericanCancerSocietyElizabethElbag,LPNMaryellenKayer,RRTBarbaraKupferJordanLevyCelesteMaykelValerieTortora,RN

We welcome and encourage your involvement.

(Cover photo of O’Beirne family courtesy of Kathy O’Beirne,

Colorectal Cancer Survivor)

COLORECTALCANCER ALLIANCE

OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS

Worcester, MA | 508-826-6181www.colorectalcanceralliancecentralma.org

bkpfr@aol.com

Worcester, MA | 508-826-6181www.colorectalcanceralliancecentralma.org

bkpfr@aol.com

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance of Central Massachusettshasamissiontobringtogethermembersofthecommunityandhealthcareprofessionalstoincreaseawarenessofcolorectalcancerwiththepurposeofimprovingandimplementingpreventionstrategies.Asavolunteer committeeofpatients,caregiversand physicians,weworktogethertogeneratephilanthropicsupporttoachievethegoalsoftheAlliance.

•Screeningatage50isthekeytopreventingcolorectalcancer

•Individualswithfamilyhistoryofcolorectalcancershouldbeginearlier;generallyatage40

•African-Americansbeginscreeningatage45

Screeningoptionsinclude:

•Colonoscopy

•Flexiblesigmoidoscopy

•BariumEnema

•Fecaloccultbloodtesting

•CTcolonography

It’sbesttogetregularscreeningsratherthanrelyoncoloncancersymptomstoalertyoutothepresenceofatumor.

What is Colorectal Cancer?

•Adiseaseinwhichnormalcellsintheliningofthecolonorrectumbegintochange,growwithoutcontrolandnolongerdie

•Anon-cancerousgrowththatovertimecanbecomeacanceroustumor

•Thesecond-mostcommontypeofcancerinmenandwomenaffectinganestimated150,000peopleintheUnitedStatesannually

What are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?

Coloncancercangrowforyearsbeforecausingsymptoms.Oftensymptomsdonotappearuntilthediseaseisalreadyadvanced.Thedevelopmentofthesesymptomsshouldpromptavisittoyourprimarycareproviderforevaluation.

•Bleedingfromtherectumorbloodinthestool

•Achangeinbowelhabits:diarrhea, constipation,orafeelingthattheboweldoesnotemptycompletely

•Stoolsthatappearnarrowerorthinner thanusual

•Discomfortintheabdomen,includingfrequentgaspains,bloating,fullnessandcramps

•Unexplainedweightloss

Screening & Prevention

Q&A

What does the Colorectal Cancer Alliance bring to the Central Massachusetts Community?

•Publicawareness&communityoutreach

•Educationthroughpubliclecturesby physiciansandpatients

•Information,updatesandlinksoncoloncancerviawebsite

•FundraisingeventstosupportcommunityeducationandresearchandtreatmentattheUniversityofMassachusettsMedicalSchoolandUMassMemorialMedicalCenter.