Racing for Awareness

Paul Weigel, a marathon runner and triathlete, was 43 when he was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer 11 years ago.

Now, he’s cancer-free and has written a book called “Iron Dad” for his daughter, who was a newborn when he began his cancer fight. 

“I swam, biked, and ran with my chemo drugs in a backpack,” Paul said. “I wanted my daughter to have a lasting memory of me finishing an Ironman, knowing her dad was not a quitter.”

Colorectal cancer rates are rising among younger adults, which is why current guidelines recommend starting screening at age 45 for average-risk individuals, says the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the organization is urging everyone over 45 to get screened and encouraging others to do so, too.

Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States. Yet, it’s highly preventable with screening. Here’s why getting checked matters:

• Screening can help you find the warning signs so you can take action to stop the disease.
• Screening can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment is most effective.

The average age of diagnosis is 66, with 1 in 24 people receiving the news at some point in their lifetime. In the United States, that’s 150,000 people each year, with more than a third as many dying each year.

African Americans are generally at a higher risk, with 1 in 3 being diagnosed at some point, the organization says.

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