The American Cancer Society (ACS) is joining a major public awareness campaign in support of the first annual National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which is intended to create widespread awareness about colorectal cancer and prompt people to take action by learning more about this disease.

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month begins today with a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Several television, print, and radio public service ads with messages about colorectal cancer will appear throughout the month.

Unlike some other cancers, colorectal cancer is highly preventable and can be detected early through screening. However, it is the second leading cancer killer in the US. The ACS estimates 130,200 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2000, and 56,300 are expected to die from the disease this year.

The diagnosis of colorectal cancer in high-profile individuals, including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and baseball players Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis, has helped raise awareness of the disease. Still, people are often reluctant to talk about it.

The ACS is encouraging people to use its resources ­ a toll-free information line at 1-800-ACS-2345 and this Web site ­ to get accurate, unbiased colorectal cancer information and support. The Society also encourages people to talk with their doctor for information on risk factors and screening options.

"The American Cancer Society"s toll-free information line is one of the resources we offer to help people make informed decisions about their health," said Gerald Woolam, MD, president of the ACS. "It is the only national cancer help line offering comprehensive information about cancer and local resources to callers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The American Cancer Society"s Web site also offers information on a variety of cancer-related subjects written by medical professionals."

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month began when the Cancer Research Foundation of America, the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (founded by the ACS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and the American Digestive Health Foundation joined forces to bring important messages about colorectal cancer to the American public. The founding partners have joined 34 other collaborating sponsors to focus their energies and resources on colorectal cancer each year, especially during the month of March.