Coaches vs. Cancer and Colon Cancer Alliance Encourage Basketball Fans to Earn a Blue Star in the Fight Against Colon Cancer.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Former Division I coach Norm Stewart and former sportscaster Oren Stevens raise awareness about screening and recent advances in treatment

This year, players on the court won't be the only stars college basketball fans will be seeing. Blue stars also will be taking center court as part of the second annual Earn a Blue Star program, a unique initiative to educate college basketball fans about colon cancer during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colon cancer survivors -- former University of Missouri men's basketball coach, Norm Stewart, and former FOX sportscaster, Oren Stevens -- have joined the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) and Coaches vs. Cancer to kick off the program.

Volunteers will be hitting the streets to ask college basketball fans to Earn a Blue Star by getting screened for colon cancer and pledging to tell three others who may be at risk for the disease to be screened. The blue star symbolizes the fight against colon cancer, a disease more than 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with this year. In fact, one out of every 18 people in the United States will develop colon cancer in their lifetime.

Fans will be encouraged to visit mybluestar.org to send a personal video message from Stewart and Stevens to friends and family members over age 50, with risk factors, or with a family history of colon cancer, as a reminder to be screened. Those who have been diagnosed with colon cancer will be asked to learn about the treatment options now available, including minimally invasive procedures, by visiting the site.

Sports Alumni Join Forces -- Raise Awareness About Personal Cause

Coach Stewart knows firsthand the importance of paying attention to the threat of colon cancer. He collapsed on a team flight, forcing him to address what turned out to be the symptoms of colon cancer. Stewart missed the final 14 games of the 1989-90 season to undergo surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer. Since then, he has become a passionate advocate for helping others win the fight against the disease by helping educate them about the importance of early detection and the recent availability of minimally invasive treatment options.

"When I was diagnosed, the only option was traditional, open surgery. I missed half of the season to recover. Now, important advancements, like minimally invasive surgery, help people recover faster, spend less time in the hospital, and experience less scarring," Stewart said. "Colon cancer, if detected early, is one of the most preventable, treatable, and beatable cancers, but people need to take action. The Earn a Blue Star program is helping millions understand this important fact."

Joining Coach Stewart's team on the 2006 Earn a Blue Star effort is former FOX sportscaster and actor, Oren Stevens, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005. However, he benefited from treatment options not available when Stewart was diagnosed. Their stories are a prime example of how far the treatment of colon cancer has advanced. Unlike Coach Stewart's lengthy recovery and extensive scarring, Stevens had three, dime-size incisions and was walking the same day after surgery.

"Coach Stewart and I are both colon cancer survivors, but when he was diagnosed, there were fewer treatment options. Fortunately, I was able to benefit from treatment advances, such as minimally invasive surgery, which allowed me a quicker, less painful recovery," Stevens said. "I'm a huge basketball fan and made my doctor promise I would not miss out on the NBA Finals, which were played the night of my surgery. Not only did I not miss a second of the game, I even returned to my regular workout routine in six weeks!"

Unfortunately, experts say less than half of those who should be screened for the disease are doing so. Because colon cancer screening is not as prevalent as it should be, many are caught off guard by the diagnosis.

"Fortunately, my cancer was caught early, and I am now one of the millions who can proudly say they are a colon cancer survivor," said Coach Stewart. "Early detection makes all the difference, which is why we are asking fans to Earn a Blue Star by scheduling a screening and encouraging three others over age 50, with risk factors or a family history of colon cancer, to also get screened."

Forming the Perfect Team -- Coaches vs. Cancer and Colon Cancer Alliance

The Earn a Blue Star program partners Coach Stewart and Stevens with the CCA and the Coaches vs. Cancer program.

Coach Stewart helped pioneer the program now known as Coaches vs. Cancer in 1992 to leverage the strength and celebrity of our country's basketball coaches to raise awareness about cancer risks and funding for the American Cancer Society. To date, Coaches vs. Cancer has raised more than $25 million to further the American Cancer Society's mission of eliminating cancer as a major health threat. The program includes many coaches from around the country who have been personally touched by cancer, such as Coach Stewart.

Through the Coaches vs. Cancer program, Coach Stewart joined forces with the CCA because of similar goals -- to help limit the number of deaths caused by cancer. The CCA is an organization of colon and rectal cancer survivors, their families, caregivers, people genetically predisposed to the disease, and the medical community. The non-profit organization is dedicated to patient support, advocacy, and education. CCA has more than 25,000 members, and more than 127,000 people used their services in 2005.

About Earn a Blue Star

Launched in 2005, Earn a Blue Star has reached millions encouraging early detection and treatment of colon cancer. Equally as important, the program has spread to families and friends as more people encourage loved ones who may be at risk to get screened early, because colon cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable.

The Earn a Blue Star program is made possible through the sponsorship of Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. (EES), whose mission is to transform patient care through innovation by developing instruments used for the minimally invasive treatment of various diseases and conditions, including colon cancer.

More information about the Earn a Blue Star program is available at www.mybluestar.org. Visitors can log onto the Web site for important information about colon cancer, questions to ask their doctor, and e-mail video messages to family and friends reminding them to get screened.