Colorectal Cancer Screening a Significant Factor in Lowering Incidence & Death Rate

The Prevent Cancer Foundation welcomes the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that colorectal cancer incidence and death have significantly decreased due to a greater emphasis on screening. According to the CDC, the rate of new colorectal cancer (CRC) cases fell from 52.3 per 100,000 in 2003 to 45.4 per 100,000 in 2007. The U.S. death rate for colorectal cancer also fell from 19 to 16.7 per 100,000 between 2003 and 2007. While colorectal cancer screening rates are still relatively low in the United States, this latest finding further underlines the importance of prevention and early detection in battling the disease.

Over the past 25 years, the Prevent Cancer Foundation has worked to educate the public about the importance of prevention and early detection in lowering cancer incidence and mortality. In 2000, Prevent Cancer convened a coalition of 57 colorectal cancer organizations to urge Congress to recognize March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and subsequently launched a major colorectal cancer awareness campaign to educate the public that colon cancer is Preventable, Treatable and Beatable.  This campaign has raised understanding about the importance of regular screening in colorectal cancer prevention to unprecedented levels over the past decade.

The Foundation provides a variety of CRC education and awareness programs. This year, the Foundation launched the first annual Screening Saves Lives National Challenge in conjunction with the new Web site ScreeningSaves.org. The competition offered community-based colorectal cancer projects the chance to win a one-day visit with the Super Colon and a $5,000 grant for related CRC activities.

ScreeningSaves.org also affords the Campaign a broader reach both across the country and online. The Foundation’s exhibit, the Prevent Cancer Super Colon® travels around the country to both urban and rural areas with a specific focus on communities that are underserved or at greater increased risk for CRC.

The Foundation’s Dialogue for Action on Colorectal Cancer Screening conference brings together colorectal health professionals, advocates, community leaders and sponsors to discuss the challenges and solutions to colorectal screening. Dialogue for Action is part of a comprehensive and coordinated cancer prevention strategy that reaches out through states and regions, including outreach to Native American and Alaska native tribes.

We continue our efforts to reduce cancer incidence and mortality by funding research, educating the public and providing outreach programs that help thousands in communities across the country. The Prevent Cancer Foundation continues to urge the public to learn the facts about colorectal cancer. With regular screening, CRC continues to be Preventable, Treatable, Beatable!