WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States among men and women combined; and

WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Maine; and

WHEREAS, one in twenty men and one in twenty-four women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetimes; and

WHEREAS, there are now more than one million survivors of colorectal cancer in the United States; and

WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented with timely screening, but one in three eligible Americans are not up to date on screening; and

WHEREAS, colonoscopy screening rates have still not returned to pre-COVID-19 level; and

WHEREAS, it is critical that all people, of all ages, know the signs and symptoms of the disease; and

WHEREAS, observing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month during the month of March provides a special opportunity to increase awareness and offer education on the importance of early detection and screening of colorectal cancer.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim March 2023 as

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

throughout the State of Maine, and I urge all citizens to recognize this observance in activities that will increase awareness, raise screening rates, and save lives.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this first day of March Two Thousand Twenty-Three