Download NEWS RELEASE Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/UMHC

NEWS RELEASE
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/UMHC-University of Miami Hospital & Clinics
1475 N.W. 12th Ave. (D-1) • Miami, FL 33136• 305-243-1000• Toll Free: 800-545-2292
Contact:
Lisa Worley 305-243-5184 (media relations)
Erica Brandt 305-243-1000 (office)
Feb. 15, 2013
For immediate release
COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH KICKS OFF WITH FREE HEALTH
FAIR
A free health fair to inform the residents of Miami about colon cancer prevention will be
held on March 25th in the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami
Hospital & Clinics. This event is part of the Miami Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Campaign & Health Fair.
March is the month of Colorectal Cancer Awareness and the theme for this year is
Preventable, Treatable, Beatable. The fair is from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature a lunch and
learn session with a panel of doctors and colon-cancer survivors, a chance for attendees to
complete health-risk assessments and the opportunity to crawl through Coco the Colossal Colon.
The lunch will admit the first two hundred people, and there is no registration needed.
“Colon cancer is second to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the
United States,” Dr. Laurence R. Sands, chief of colorectal surgery at the Sylvester
Comprehensive Cancer Center said. “It’s one of the only cancers that we have out here that is
really preventable. People need to get screened.”
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FREE HEALTH FAIR, Add 1
The American Cancer Society recommends that average-risk patients begin screenings
for colon cancer with a colonoscopy at age 50. African-Americans and Hispanics are considered
higher-risk patients and should begin screenings a few years earlier. Proper screenings are a huge
method of prevention and can save 25,000 people every year.
Symptoms for colorectal cancer include blood in or on the stool, change in bowel habits,
vomiting, weight loss for no apparent reason, rectal bleeding and constant tiredness. Risk factors
associated with the cancer are history of colorectal polyps, being African-American, a diet with
high fat content, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and a family history of
cancer.
For more information about colorectal cancer, call the American Cancer Society at 800227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
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MEDIA ADVISORY
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/UMHC-University of Miami Hospital & Clinics
1475 N.W. 12th Ave. (D-1) • Miami, FL 33136• 305-243-1000• Toll Free: 800-545-2292
Contact:
Erica Brandt 305-243-1000 (office)
Feb. 15, 2013
For immediate release
COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH KICKS OFF WITH FREE HEALTH
FAIR
WHAT:
A Colorectal Cancer Awareness Health Fair will offer the public a variety of
activities and informational sessions. The fair will include a lunch and learn
session with doctors and colon-cancer survivors, a chance for attendees
to complete health-risk assessments and get their blood pressure checked and a
chance to walk through Coco the Colossal Colon.
WHEN:
8 a.m. to 7 p.m., March 25
Lunch and learn session from Noon-2 p.m.
Colossal Colon tours from Noon-7 p.m.
WHERE:
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Hospital & Clinics
1400 N.W. 12th Ave., Miami
(Corner of NW 14th St. and NW 12th Ave.)
WHO:
Dr. Laurence R. Sands, chief of colorectal surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive
Cancer Center
Dr. Maria T. Abreu, chief of the division of gastroenterology, University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Pedro Greer, chief of gastroenterology, Florida International University’s
College of Medicine
Dr. Daniel Sussman, gastroenterologist, University of Miami Miller School of
Medicine
Dr. Michael Chen, colorectal surgeon, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dr. Keith Bai-ley, oncologist, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Andy Reeves, pharmacist, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Zoe Gonzalez, victim
Becky Gomez, victim
Shawn Brown, victim
WHY:
Colon cancer is second to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer-related deaths
in the United States. It is one of the only cancers that is really preventable through
proper screenings. These screenings can save 25,000 people every year.
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-30NOTE:
Zoe Gonzalez, Becky Gomez and Shawn Brown will all be available for
interviews from 3-5 p.m. To receive details about the interview location call
305-243-1000.
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Miami Hospital & Clinics
1475 N.W. 12th Ave. (D-1)
Miami, FL 33136
February 15, 2013
Howard Cohen, health reporter
Miami Herald
One Herald Plaza
Miami, FL 33132
Howard Cohen:
As you are probably already aware, March is the month of Colon Cancer Awareness. Colon
cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Both you and I
know the importance about educating the public about this health issue so we can make this
statistic drop.
The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Hospital & Clinics is
having a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Health Fair with the theme Preventable, Treatable,
Beatable. It will be on March 25th from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to raise awareness among the public. It is
our goal to help save lives by educating people about prevention and screenings for early
detection. The health fair will feature a lunch and learn session with doctors and colon-cancer
survivors. There will also be a chance for attendees to complete health-risk assessments and
observe a mock colonoscopy.
The fact that health care professionals including surgeons, professors and victims of colon cancer
are all going to be part of this event is amazing. There will be a variety of viewpoints and stories
shared to inform the public about how preventable this cancer is. There will also be three victims
available for interviews the day of the event from 3-5 p.m.
If you would like to contact me for further information or to set up an interview I can be reached
at 305-243-1000. I will follow up with you in a few days. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Erica Brandt
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Public Relations Director