AUBURN — Residents driving downtown at night may have noticedlamp posts along Genesee Street and on North and South streetsdecorated in glowing blue lights.

Struggling to figure out what holiday would cause the streets ofAuburn to be shining with blue lights could be tough, but thewell-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday at theintersection of Genesee Street and Dill/William streets spelled itout. March is colon cancer awareness month. Blue is the colorassociated with colon cancer.

The wide, blue ribbon that crossed Genesee Street read, “MainStreet Goes Blue.” The Main Street Goes Blue campaign is statewideand the Cayuga County Health Department’s Cancer Services Programhas joined efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of coloncancer and the ease with which it can be prevented.

Ed Towle, of Auburn, broke down in tears at the podium as hedescribed what it felt like to find out he had cancer and wonder ifhe’d be able to work, pay rent and be there for his family.

He was 39 last year when he was diagnosed with stage three coloncancer. he recently completed a round of treatments and is hopingfor the best.

“It’s been a long road,” he said. “You never know … cancer has noage limits.”

Towle said the cost of diagnostics is sometimes prohibitive foruninsured people. other reasons people do not get tested is thefear of the colonoscopy procedure.

“It’s not a bad procedure,” he said. “If (colon cancer) is detectedearly enough, you can beat it.”

Others assume they are healthy and do not get tested even after age50.

“I thought I was healthy,” Towle said. “I never thought I was goingto end up with colon cancer. it doesn’t run in my family.”

Michele Sedor, who was diagnosed at 44, is a seven-year survivor.She had no symptoms when she was diagnosed, but her doctor advisedher to get a colonoscopy after her sister was diagnosed. Sedor hadstage three colon cancer.

“It’s just so important for people to get a colonoscopy,” she said.“It’s a test that can save your life.”

Sedor has hope that one day, colon cancer will be widely discussedand awareness will improve.

“I believe at some point, colon cancer will be talked about likebreast cancer is,” she said. “It’ll take time.”

Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 282-2239 . Follow her on Twitter at CitizenVoll