Olympus and Colon Cancer Coalition Partner to Increase Nationwide Screening Rates for Colon Cancer

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. and MINNEAPOLIS, May 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus Corporation of the Americas (OCA) , a global technology leader in designing and delivering innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, among other core businesses, announced today that they are expanding their relationship with the Colon Cancer Coalition, a national nonprofit organization encouraging grass roots efforts for colon cancer awareness and screening.  Through this national partnership, Olympus is dedicated to achieving the goal of an 80% screening rate for colon cancer nationwide.

Colon cancer continues to be a major health issue in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 140,000 Americans—men and women—are diagnosed with colon cancer every year, and over 50,000 die from the disease.  While colon cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S. among men and women combined, it is the most detectable and treatable form if detected early.  Analysis released by the National Colorectal Cancer Round Table shows that by reaching the shared 80% screening goal by the year 2018, more than 203,000 American deaths could be prevented by the year 2030.

Olympus has been named a National Sponsor at the Colon Cancer Coalition's Get Your Rear in Gear® 5Ks and fitness activity events across the country as well as the Tour de Tush® bike rides.  In addition to its financial support, Olympus will participate in community outreach events as the Presenting Sponsor in the Lehigh Valley, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle.  This partnership will further the Colon Cancer Coalition's outreach, helping the organization to grow and reach new audiences in communities across the country. 

As a part of their efforts to increase screening rates for colon cancer, Olympus is engaging their more than 5,000 employees in the U.S. to participate in events and fundraisers to benefit the Colon Cancer Coalition's efforts in the communities they serve.  The company is also encouraging wellness, physical activity and health education around colon cancer.  Employees, their spouses or domestic partners covered under a specific healthcare plan offered by Olympus are eligible for an annual colonoscopy covered at 100% regardless of age, at any in-network provider.

"We believe it is our responsibility to help raise awareness of colon cancer," said Nacho Abia, President and CEO at OCA.  "Olympus will serve as an advocate to increase public education and encourage prevention and treatment of this disease.  Our relationship with Colon Cancer Coalition accelerates our ability to achieve our mission of contributing to society by making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling around the world."

"We know how to detect and prevent the spread of colon and rectal cancer and can be most effective when discovering the diseases at their earliest and most treatable stages," says Anne Carlson, Executive Director of the Colon Cancer Coalition.  "We are proud of the work our volunteers do around the country to increase screening rates in their communities, and are thankful to Olympus for their continued support and help to amplify the screening and education efforts happening in the areas we serve."

Olympus is the leading manufacturer of medical devices used to peer inside the human body to detect, diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases such as colon cancer.  Olympus pioneered the development of endoscopic technology more than 60 years ago and remains a global leader today, helping to improve the lives of millions who have been diagnosed or screened for colon cancer.

About Olympus Corporation of the Americas

Olympus is a global precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in Medical and Surgical Products; Scientific Solutions; and Cameras and Audio Recorders. Our expertise in optical, digital and precision technologies provides the foundation for our innovations which look inside the human body to help prevent, diagnose and treat illness; further scientific research; and capture images of the world. Throughout our nearly 100-year history, Olympus has been recognized as a pioneer and innovator focused on contributing to society by making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. Olympus Corporation of the Americas (OCA)—a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation in Tokyo, Japan—is headquartered in Center Valley, Pennsylvania and employs more than 5,000 employees throughout locations in North and South America. For more information, visit Olympus at www.olympusamerica.com.

About the Colon Cancer Coalition

The Colon Cancer Coalition is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minn., dedicated to encouraging screening and raising awareness for colon cancer. The organization's signature Get Your Rear in Gear^® and Tour de Tush^® events are volunteer-driven in communities throughout the United States. Since 2004, millions of dollars has been granted by the Colon Cancer Coalition to local programs that promote early prevention, screening, and patient support services for this disease. By making the words colon, colorectal and colonoscopy a part of the everyday language, we believe we can overcome the fear and decrease deaths from this largely preventable cancer.  For more information visit www.ColonCancerCoalition.org.  

SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas

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