The Colon vs. Colorectal Conundrum

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and this is the time when I hear the most feedback and conversation around the use of the word "colon" versus "colorectal" when describing the type of cancer I have. It's also the type of cancer the organization I work for strives to prevent through screening and education. At times those conversations surround the work being done to promote awareness and the confusion and exclusion felt because many use the word "colon" and not "colorectal" to educate about this disease.

From within the colorectal cancer world, there can be a feeling of isolation and separation when rectal cancer patients see their disease generalized under the term "colon cancer." We are already up against the stigma of a cancer that is uncomfortable for many to talk about, so leaving out a part of our digestive tract where this cancer does grow can feel like we are further contributing to that shame.

As a patient with colon cancer, I want to be inclusive of friends and peers diagnosed with rectal cancer. I am fortunate in that the surgery to remove my primary tumor was simple and straightforward, but I know rectal cancer is a very different beast. The process by which a rectal cancer patient works to rid themselves of their cancer can be far more invasive and involved, often resulting in greater long-term or permanent effects and repercussions to their bodies.

So why leave "rectal" out of "colorectal cancer" awareness? Those of us working to educate and encourage people to get screened for a largely preventable cancer know it is an uphill battle that faces many disparities. As patients and survivors affected by colon or rectal cancer, we need to take ourselves out of the bubble we live in and consider that most do not have the health literacy that we now have as members of this community. I speak from personal experience in the work we've done:

• People don't know where their colon is. While talking to young adults about their awareness of colorectal cancer, a young man wasn't even sure what the colon was or where it was in his body. He assumed it was near his lungs because it sounded like "co-lung."
• People can't pronounce colorectal. A friend wearing a shirt that had the word colorectal on it was approached and asked what "color-ectal" was.
• People mistake the word. While filming for an awareness project, someone noticed a sign being held by a fellow survivor and advocate and asked if what we were doing was about "cholesterol."

When we are trying to reach and educate people that might not know they can prevent colorectal cancer through screening, we strive to keep it simple. We factor in things like health literacy, knowledge of anatomy and remember that a basic lifesaving message isn't about exclusion, but education.

Within the colorectal cancer world, we want to recognize and include rectal cancer patients as we are talking to an engaged and educated community. But when trying to "engage the unengaged" about preventative cancer screening, using the word “colon” is short and easy to read. I know “colorectal" is not a word we should shy away from, especially as rectal cancer rates in young adults are rising at twice the rate of colon cancer. But we should consider that when trying to "reach the unreached," the simpler the message the more likely someone is to understand it, get the screening they need to prevent this cancer and save their life.