Cancer Prevention Month

February 23, 2024


The Connecticut State Legislature has progressively passed legislation improving our quality of life, and now I’m looking to lead the way for men’s health. February is Cancer Prevention Month, and I am devoted to raising awareness and drafting a new bill breaking down the importance of early screening, testing, and education especially for people of color.
The federal government estimates that nearly two million Americans were diagnosed with cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) in 2023 and that more than 600,000 died from the disease. Research shows that more than 40% of these cases and nearly half of the deaths can be attributed to preventable causes such as smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun, among others.
According to the CDC, the most common form of cancer for men in our state is prostate cancer. The rate in Connecticut has increased by 5.3% from 2016 to 2020. Over that span, doctors diagnosed an average of 2,844 men with the disease. Since then, the data is not as conclusive due to the pandemic.
7 Ways To Lower Your Risk of Prostate Cancer
I am also concerned about colon cancer because we need more funding to help patients cover the cost of transportation to their diagnostic test and the cost of the preparation materials. Thankfully, the rate of colorectal cancer has dropped by nearly half in the past 20 years.
 
Remember, check-ups and testing lead to early detection and early intervention. Trust your doctors, you body, and your family history.