COLUMBIA (WACH) -- March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The USC Center for Colon Cancer Research kicked it off in style this year with a new billboard campaign featuring colon cancer survivors and advocates for prevention.
South Carolina had over 2,000 diagnosed cases of colon cancer in 2010. Officials say that's a number that could be much lower with proper screening.
WACH Fox News talked to cancer survivors present at the event about the immediate results that they had seen as a result of campaigns such as this.
"There was an acquaintance at church who happened to see my billboard," says survivor Wanda Addie. "She had been putting off getting scoped for five years, she was fifty, went in to be scoped after seeing my billboard and found out she was in the early stages of colon cancer."
"Fifteen years ago, this wasn't happening," adds survivor Jo Moony. "We are so grateful. There are so many people that are probably being saved right now because of this."
Friday is the first event of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with Dress in Blue Day. Other events include a fundraising gala, cancer walk and several health fairs. You can find a full list of events along with more information about the disease by clicking here.
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