Michael Burgess: “Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer. It's the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the…”

“Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer. It's the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States; clearly a major player in our cancer burden here in this country. Every 3 rac{1}{2} minutes someone is diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Every 9 minutes someone dies from colorectal cancer. This is a disease that affects men and women equally. This year, almost 150,000 new cases will be diagnosed, and almost 50,000 deaths will be caused by colorectal cancer. The real tragedy is that many of these cancer cases and deaths do not have to happen. The vast majority of colorectal cancer deaths can be prevented through proper screening and early detection. This resolution recognizes March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. We do need to increase Federal funding for early detection and screening. So, along with Congressman Wynn, Representative Granger has introduced a bill that would authorize funding for early detection screenings and make preventive care a priority.”