Poughkeepsie, NY—March 12, 2012—The Digestive Disease Center of the Hudson Valley announces the lights on the Mid-Hudson Bridge will turn blue in recognition of March as Colon Cancer Awareness Month.  The New York State Bridge Authority is helping to raise awareness of the disease and show its support by displaying blue, LED necklace lighting whenever possible during the month of March.  Blue is the nationally recognized color of colon cancer awareness.
“Every ten minutes, someone dies of colon cancer,” says Dr. Paul Burrows, a board-certified gastroenterologist with Digestive Disease Center. “These lights are a perfect opportunity to raise awareness and encourage everyone to talk to their doctor about getting screened for colon cancer.”
The Digestive Disease Center recommends that everyone over the age of 50 be screened and undergo a routine colonoscopy every five years.  A colonoscopy may also be necessary at an earlier age if there is personal or a family history of colon cancer.
Over fifty-thousand people are expected to die from colon cancer in 2012 according to the American Cancer Society.
For more information about getting screened for colon cancer, visit digestivediseaseny.com or call 945-452-9800.
The Digestive Disease Center of the Hudson Valley is dedicated to the treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders of the digestive tract. It is the region’s only Gastroenterology group that includes two female gastroenterologists. All of its physicians are board-certified in Gastroenterology. The DigestiveDiseaseCenterhas offices in Poughkeepsie, Fishkill and Pleasant Valley and is now on Facebook.