What Links Terrence Howard and Meryl Streep?

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s as good a reason as any to get that screening you have been putting off.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. This week, it claimed writer and cartoonist Sam Simon, who helped create The Simpsons. He was 59.

Physicians recommend that everyone begin screenings at age 50. When detected early, colon cancer is treatable. You may not need a colonoscopy; there are other types of screenings that are less invasive, including at-home tests. You should talk to your doctor about which is best for you.

To raise public awareness of the need for colorectal cancer screenings, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has produced 30- to 60-second videos featuring celebrities like Meryl Streep, Terrence Howard and Jimmy Smits.

Check out the videos here:

Terrence Howard’s mother died of colon cancer when she was only 56.


Meryl Streep says she has been screened and the process was "simple and quick."


Jimmy Smits says colon cancer screening can save lives.

Emily Gurnon is the former Senior Content Editor covering health and caregiving for Next Avenue. Her stories include a series of articles on guardianship abuse that was funded by the Journalists in Aging Fellows Program. She previously spent 20 years as an award-winning newspaper reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area and St. Paul. Reach her through her website. Read More