Green Bay Packers and Cologuard Launch "Crossing the 50" Colon Cancer Awareness Campaign

GREEN BAY, Wis. and MADISON, Wis., Aug. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- When the Green Bay Packers cross the 50-yard line this season, it will be meaningful both on and off the field.

Highlights:

• Cologuard donates $50 to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation each time the Green Bay Packers cross the 50-yard line this season.
• Fans taking colon cancer screening pledge at Packers50.com can be entered to win luxury box tickets.
• Packers Radio Network in-game mentions to boost fan awareness of "Crossing the 50" campaign.

Exact Sciences, the manufacturer of Cologuard®, and the Packers today announced the organizations are teaming up for the second consecutive season to promote colorectal (colon) cancer awareness and they've added the "Crossing the 50" campaign.

This year, each time the Packers cross the 50-yard line, Cologuard will donate $50 to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation to remind fans that when they cross age 50 it's time to talk to their health care provider about colon cancer screening.  

Cologuard is the only noninvasive colon cancer screening option for average risk adults that uses the DNA found in a person's stool sample to detect cancer and precancerous growths.

"While crossing the 50 presents an opportunity for the Packers, turning 50 is truly a chance for fans to consider new options for colon cancer screening," and said Kevin Conroy, chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. "Noninvasive Cologuard should be discussed with your health care provider if you're at average risk because it doesn't have any of the preparation or time off from work commonly required with screening by colonoscopy."

Fans taking the colon cancer screening pledge at Packers50.com can be entered to win luxury box tickets to the December 2, 2018 game at Lambeau Field and sit alongside a soon-to-be-revealed Packers legend.

"Crossing the 50" will also be a part of every Packers Radio Network game broadcast, with a live mention the first time the team crosses the 50-yard line and additional inclusions during the game.

"The Green Bay Packers share Exact Sciences' vision for beating cancer through early detection," said Chad Watson, director of Sales and Business Development for the Green Bay Packers. "We're thrilled to have Cologuard be a sponsor again this year and look forward to including the Crossing the 50 campaign in Packers Radio Network broadcasts to bring even greater awareness to the urgency for colon cancer screening."

Colon cancer took the life of legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi at age 57 and almost 50 years later remains the number two cancer killer in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Vince Lombardi Foundation was established in 1971 and today includes a growing roster of national and local events contributing to cancer awareness, treatment and prevention. Cologuard is the official colon cancer screening partner of the foundation.

"The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation is dedicated to winning the battle against cancer by funding advancements in cancer research and compassionate care," said Ben Haas, president of the foundation. "We thank the Green Bay Packers and Exact Sciences for all they are doing to help raise colon cancer awareness and look forward to continuing to fight this disease both on and off the field."

Despite being considered one of the most preventable yet least prevented forms of cancer and having high survival rate when treated early, millions of Americans are still reluctant to get screened for colon cancer or are not getting screened at recommended intervals.

Cologuard is fully covered by Medicare and incorporated into the medical policies of the leading national health insurers, as well as a broad cross-section of local and regional health plans. To learn more about Cologuard and download a discussion guide, visit www.cologuardtest.com.  

Contacts:
Scott Larrivee, Exact Sciences, 608-535-8673, [email protected]
Katie Hermsen, Green Bay Packers, 920-569-7218, [email protected]

About Cologuard
Cologuard was approved by the FDA in August 2014 and results from Exact Sciences' prospective 90-site, point-in-time, 10,000-patient pivotal trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April 2014. Cologuard is included in the American Cancer Society's (2018) colorectal cancer screening guidelines and the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2016) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2016).  Cologuard is indicated to screen adults of either sex, 50 years or older, who are at typical average-risk for CRC.  Cologuard is not for everyone; not for high risk individuals, including those with a family history of colorectal cancer, a personal history of cancer or advanced adenoma, IBD, and certain hereditary syndromes.  Positive Cologuard results should be referred to diagnostic colonoscopy. A negative Cologuard test result does not guarantee absence of cancer or advanced adenoma. Following a negative result, patients should continue participating in a screening program at an interval and with a method appropriate for the individual patient. Cologuard performance when used for repeat testing has not been evaluated or established. For more information about Cologuard, visit www.cologuardtest.com. Rx only.

About Exact Sciences Corp.
Exact Sciences Corp. is a molecular diagnostics company focused on the early detection and prevention of the deadliest forms of cancer. The company has exclusive intellectual property protecting its non-invasive, molecular screening technology for the detection of colorectal cancer. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.exactsciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on Twitter @ExactSciences or find Exact Sciences on Facebook.

About Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation
The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation was established in 1971, in memory of five-time National Football League championship Green Bay Packers Coach, Vince Lombardi. His spirit, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence touched countless lives, and on September 3, 1970, he lost a battle to colon cancer, dying at only 57. In his honor, the Foundation is committed to raising funds for cutting-edge cancer research and compassionate care. For more information on the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, visit our new website: lombardifoundation.org.

SOURCE EXACT SCIENCES CORP