Newsroom

Katie Couric, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and its Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's (EIF) National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA) want you to "Make That Call" to your doctor for colon cancer screening if you are 50 or older or otherwise at high risk for colon cancer.

The annual citywide "Make That Call" campaign to increase colon cancer screening will run throughout March in recognition of Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

"With appropriate screening, colon cancer is often preventable and, when detected early, highly curable," said Couric. "Colonoscopies save lives. That's what 'Make that Call' is all about—understanding you can take charge of your health. So make that call, for yourself or someone you love."

Collaborating on this initiative are the Colon Cancer Alliance, the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the New York Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the New York Public Library, Duane Reade, and the Food Emporium. Participants will display educational posters and fact sheets.

"Katie Couric is a longtime friend of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and founder of our Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health. We applaud her for her passionate efforts to educate the public on the importance of colon cancer screening," said Dr. Steven J. Corwin, CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. "With Katie's leadership and the support of all of this year's collaborators, the 'Make that Call' campaign will again help save lives."

Reasons to Make That Call to Your Doctor

• Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
• Colon cancer affects men and women equally.
• Symptoms for colon cancer may include rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, abdominal pain and weight loss.
• Colon cancer is often preventable and when detected early, highly curable.
• Colon polyps and early cancers often cause no symptoms.
• Early screening saves lives!

"Every day we try to increase awareness about and compliance with colon cancer screening. This campaign is a complement to what we do year-round. We are very appreciative of all the support from our campaign collaborators and participating businesses and organizations for helping us to spread the 'Make That Call' message," says Dr. Felice Schnoll-Sussman, director of The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health.

Patients can choose to see a physician with NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center or NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. As part of the program, callers with questions about colon cancer screening who want more information about the "Make That Call" campaign can call 877-902-2232 or visit www.MakeThatCall.org. Follow @nyphospital and @katiecouric for more information.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, based in New York City, is one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive hospitals, with some 2,600 beds. In 2012, the Hospital had nearly 2 million inpatient and outpatient visits, including 12,758 deliveries and 275,592 visits to its emergency departments. NewYork-Presbyterian's 6,144 affiliated physicians and 20,154 staff provide state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine at six major centers: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division and NewYork-Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital. One of the most comprehensive health care institutions in the world, the Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service. NewYork-Presbyterian is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area and is consistently ranked among the best academic medical institutions in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. The Hospital has academic affiliations with two of the nation's leading medical colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center

The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center is a world-class gastrointestinal cancer and wellness center. The Monahan Center serves as a unique model of coordinated and compassionate care, dedicated to public education and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, including cancers of the colon, rectum, pancreas, esophagus, gallbladder, stomach and small intestine. The Monahan Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell is located at the corner of 70th Street and York Avenue in New York City. For more information, visit https://weillcornell.org/monahanctr.