National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Join us every March for National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. All month long, you can help us spotlight colorectal cancer and inspire more people to get checked starting at age 45.
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives
Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States. Yet it's one of the few cancers that's preventable thanks to screening. Here are two reasons why getting checked matters:
- Screening can find the warning signs of colon and rectal cancer, letting doctors take action to prevent the disease.
- Screening can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment is most effective.
Build awareness of colorectal cancer
One in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime, but you can make a difference today.
Make an impact
This National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, make a gift to honor a patient, caregiver, or friend. Your donation will be matched, doubling your impact!
Get swag
Shop the Alliance's store for swag, including T-shirts, buttons, and more! Bring attention to colorectal cancer wherever you go.
Dress in Blue Day
By wearing blue, you bring awareness to colorectal cancer and support our work — as well as honor all who are impacted by this disease.
Communicator kit
Businesses, doctor's offices, and advocates can find draft content to help raise awareness through communications.
Attend an event
Browse our list of events happening this March, both in-person and online.
Share awareness on social media
Your voice is powerful! Tell your community about colorectal cancer prevention with these copy-and-paste social media posts.
Free colorectal cancer brochures
Raise awareness in your community. Order colorectal cancer brochures to promote awareness and provide support for patients and caregivers. Get 100 copies of each brochure for free!
Send awareness-raising e-cards
This March, the Alliance and the American Cancer Society have teamed up to share YourColonIs45.org — a campaign to close the 80% screening gap among people ages 45 - 49. Send e-cards to people eligible for screening today!
About National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
If colorectal cancer is highly preventable with screening and highly treatable when caught early, then why is colorectal cancer the second deadliest cancer in the U.S.?
It’s a great question with a complicated answer. A lack of knowledge about prevention and limited access to screening has a lot to do with it, and a third of people who could get checked don’t. A missed or delayed screening gives colorectal cancer a chance to grow and become more dangerous long before symptoms appear.
The Alliance is working daily to advocate for prevention, magnify patient support, and accelerate research, most recently with a multi-million dollar investment in research through Project Cure CRC. Join us and get involved this March!
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month began in 2000
To raise the profile of this disease and encourage screening, President Clinton designated March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in February 2000. Since then, it has grown to be a rallying point for the colorectal cancer community where thousands of patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates join together to spread colorectal cancer awareness.
Getting checked can’t wait. This March, join the Alliance in saving lives through prevention awareness.
Get support for colorectal cancer
Are you or someone you know concerned about colon or rectal cancer? Get more information and access support below.
Join the support hub
BlueHQ is a personalized support hub with direct access to the Alliance's universe of tools, resources, and peer communities to improve your path with colorectal cancer.
Call the helpline
Need to talk to someone? Call the Alliance's toll-free Helpline at (877) 422-2030 to speak with one of our certified patient and family support navigators.
Take the screening quiz
Take our free screening quiz to learn how and when you should get checked based on your individual risk factors.
March sponsors
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Start an awareness month fundraiser
Help colorectal cancer patients, survivors, family members, and caregivers get the support they need with a Facebook fundraiser!
Top resources
Five moments that mattered in 2024
This year was the Alliance’s 25th year of impact, and we’re looking back on some of the milestones that made 2024 a year to remember.
Alliance Celebrates 25 Years & Honors Notable Partners at the National Blue Hope Bash
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s national Blue Hope Bash, held November 2 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., raised nearly $2 million to support lifesaving work.
Porsche car raffle helped winners look forward
Colorectal cancer patient Mark Bassett won a Porsche in the Blue Hope Bash car raffle, bringing unexpected joy and new experiences amid his cancer journey.