Mel’s Mission: Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Together We Can!!!
Please consider any of the following four options to help support Mel's Mission. Thank you for your support.
- Donations: Directly supports Mel's Mission by providing critical funding for awareness efforts, creating ribbons and other products, and to help continue and grow this campaign.
- Purchase Ribbons and Related Products: In my effort to promote awareness of screening and early detection of colorectal cancer, I have created ribbons and related merchandise.
- Help Support Melissa's Cancer Healing Journey: Mel's personal GoFundMe page.
- Mel’s Mission eBay Store: Explore a collection of new and like-new items generously donated to benefit Mel's Mission. Discover unique pieces from Mel's personal collection and handmade treasures by Mel herself. Your purchase not only adds something special to your life but also supports a meaningful cause. Join us in browsing these treasures and be a part of something wonderful at Mel's Mission.
Immediate Goal
I would like to turn my own diagnosis into something positive and to help others, as soon as possible. My mission is to save lives by creating awareness about the importance of screening and early detection of colorectal cancer. From there, I have bigger ideas, but for now, awareness is the priority.
How do we create awareness?
We do it together!
We all know that the pink ribbon represents breast cancer awareness. We see pink ribbons everywhere!
Did you know that colorectal cancer is the 4th most common cancer? So, what color ribbon represents colorectal cancer since it is so common? Well, there isn't one that represents both colon and rectal cancer. After researching, I found that dark blue already represents colon cancer. But what about rectal cancer?
The Ribbon Campaign
Realizing that colorectal cancer needs its own ribbon, I decided to create one! Keeping the dark blue to represent colon cancer but adding brown ribbon to represent and include rectal cancer. Together, they represent Colorectal Cancer Awareness!
My first primary goal is this ribbon campaign. My hope is, as soon as you see one of these ribbons, you instantly know what it represents: Colorectal Cancer Awareness!
Do you know WHEN to get your Colonoscopy?
- According to the American Cancer Society and the US Preventative Services Task Force, as of May of 2021, the recommended age changed to 45 years old. Prior to that, the recommended age was 50 for people with average risk. The reason for the change was due to a rise in cases among younger adults. Talk to your doctor about getting a colonoscopy starting at 45 years old whether or not you have symptoms.
- According to the CDC website, if you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you'll want to talk to your doctor about getting a colonoscopy 10 YEARS prior to their age of diagnosis or getting a colonoscopy starting at 40 years old (whichever occurs first.) example: My diagnosis at 48 years old means my children will need to be screened at 38.
- If you are experiencing symptoms, you'll want to talk to your doctor about getting screened NOW! Not only is a colonoscopy used to detect colorectal cancer, but it can detect other conditions and diseases as well such as:
Colitis
Crohn's Disease
Diverticulitis
Ulcers
Bowel Obstructions
Polyps