March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time for gastroenterologists to remind their patients and colleagues of the importance of colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among women. We in the ACG Women in GI Committee encourage you to reach out to your local obstetrician/gynecologist colleagues and ask them to join us in our goal of reducing the burden of colorectal cancer.
To Do: Reach Out to Your Local OB/GYNs
Our colleagues in primary care play an invaluable role in facilitating colorectal cancer screening. These providers are often already the main point of care for our patients prior to the age of 45, and therefore can recommend colorectal cancer screening and a gastroenterology referral for their patients.
Obstetrician/gynecologists offer other important cancer screening tests and are well poised to serve as a natural ally in reducing colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in women. We encourage ACG members to reach out and build relationships with local obstetrician/gynecologists.
Local Ob/Gyns can help to dispel any myths or misconceptions sometimes heard from women that colorectal cancer is a “man’s disease.” The ACG website includes a number of patient education handouts that can be shared with the gynecology community. We encourage you to promote colorectal cancer awareness using ACG social media banners and tag your colleagues and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) @acog).
ACG Physician Locator: The “Find A GI Tool”
The ACG website includes an easily searchable zip code-based directory of gastroenterologists for patient use. Some patients may prefer a provider of a certain gender, and can use the following link to find a preferred physician. Find a Gastroenterologist – American College of Gastroenterology)
Raise Awareness of CRC: #DressinBlue #BejeweledinBlue
Join us for Dress in Blue Day on Friday, March 3rd! Blue scrubs, blue jewelry, blue nail polish, blue “bling” for your ID badge – we can’t wait to see what you put together!
