Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide in both men and women and is expected to cause an estimated 49,700 deaths in the U.S. in 2015.1,2 To honor those impacted by the disease, in 2000, the Colon Cancer Alliance established March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the U.S.
In recognition of March’s Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Amgen community took action to raise awareness about this disease. On Wednesday, March 11, more than 900 staff members on the Thousand Oaks campus showed their support of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by wearing blue and participating in a Wellness Walk. Not only did the Wellness Walk provide an opportunity for Amgen staff to come together, but also provided educational information about colorectal cancer, including risk factors and prevention methods.
Amgen has played a significant role in personalized medicine and biomarker research by helping to pioneer the identification of the KRAS and RAS, biomarkers now used to identify patients who will not respond to certain types of treatment.
As the discovery of biomarkers has fundamentally changed the approach to treating advanced colorectal cancer, and testing for biomarkers has become more readily available, Amgen is encouraging you to know your biomarker. In partnership with advocacy groups Chris4Life, Colon Cancer Alliance and Fight Colorectal Cancer, Amgen helped to create a public awareness campaign, On Your Mark. Get Tested. Know Your Biomarker.
Learn more about colorectal cancer and biomarkers.
REFERENCES
- Colorectal Cancer Prevention (PDQ®). National Cancer Institute website. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/colorectal/HealthProfessional/page3 . Accessed February 18, 2015.
- American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer. www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-key-statistics . Accessed February 27, 2015.