Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, yet it is 90% preventable and treatable if detected early.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2005, I was invited to see "The Super Colon" --an 8-foot tall, 20-foot long, interactive replica of a human colon that the public can walk through--at the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center to educate New Yorkers about the importance of colorectal cancer screening. The event marked the first anniversary of the opening of the Monahan Center, one of only a few comprehensive cancer and wellness centers in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to gastrointestinal health. The Super Colon shows people first-hand what colorectal polyps and cancer look like compared to healthy colon tissue, and teaches people about the risks, symptoms, prevention, early detection and treatment options for colorectal cancer. (Pictured:Dr. Mark Pochapin, Director, Jay Monahan Center for Gastroinstestinal Health,and Michael J. McCurdy, Founder/Publisher, HealthNewsDigest.com. Five years ago, Dr. Pochapin tested Mr.McCurdy and gave him a clean bill of health.)

"Hey, wanna see pictures of us in our Colondar?" Five women were shouting to me when they realized that I was part of the media covering the event. They all eagerly held up a Calendar with four of them featured on the cover with bikini tops and low cut hip-hugger jeans. "Oh, ok" I nonchalantly said, as I walked over to their table.

"You've got to get the story out that women are susceptible to this disease also," said Erika, Miss November. Erika was diagnosed at age 22. She thought her symptoms - fatigue, abdominal discomfort, bloating, constipation, and blood in her stool - were due to the stress of being a graduate student. Her doctor suspected that she had parasites or colitis (an inflammatory bowel disease), but instead found a tumor in her colon during a colonoscopy. Erika had stage IV colon cancer that had already spread to her liver. She was not given much hope of survival.

Despite the bleak outlook given by her doctors, Erika did not want cancer to rule her life. She returned to graduate school, obtained her master's degree, and got married.

Through surgery, chemotherapy, and spiritual and emotional healing, Erika has been cancer-free for four years. Now 27, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their two cats, and is passionate about her work at the Stroud Water Research Center. www.stroudcenter.org

A CALENDAR OF YOUNG WOMEN AFFECTED BY COLORECTAL CANCER

Top Row, from left to right:

Angela Lawrence - Age at Diagnosis: 37

Sarah Kincaid - Age at Diagnosis: 28

Jennifer Simmons -Age at Diagnosis: 36

Erika Kratzer - Age at Diagnosis: 22

Maria Caosella - Age at Diagnosis: 36

Molly McMaster - Age at Diagnosis: 23

Bottom Row, left to right:

Melissa Parker - Age at Diagnosis: 34

Amy Gaiser - Age at Diagnosis: 28

Tammy Figg - Age at Diagnosis: 27

Linda Savage - Age at Diagnosis: 49

Eden Stotsky - Age at Diagnosis: 26

Sara Hatcher - Age at Diagnosis: 26

The 2005 Colondar is a project of The Colon Club. For more information: www.colonclub.com

100% of profits from sales of the 2005 Colordar will be used to further the colorectal cancer education projects of The Colon Club.

(Pictured: Katie Couric,of NBC'Today Show, Dr. Mark Pochapin, Director, Jay Monahan Center for Gastroinstestinal Health, Dr. Steven Corwin, Executive VP and COO of NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and Fog Horn Leg Horn, the "I say don't be a chicken. . .get screened" rooster.

Six years ago, Katie Couric's husband Jay Monahan, a highly regarded attorney and television legal commentator, lost his nine-month battle with colon cancer.

For more information about the Jay Monahan Center, go to www.monahancenter.org.

For more information about National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month or the Super Colon, go to www.preventcancer.org/colorectal.

Colorectal Cancer Coalition - www.c-three.org

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