Colon Cancer | Catching it Early - Guest Blog by the American Cancer Society

Colon Cancer | Catching it Early 

Guest Blog by Anna Fetzer, MPH Senior Manager, Primary Care for the American Cancer Society

For many, March means the beginning of spring, but for those in the health care profession, March has another important beginning: colon cancer awareness month. While colon cancer incidence rates have dropped 30 percent in the U.S. over the last 10 years among adults 50 and older, it is still the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, despite being highly preventable, detectable and treatable. If the good news is that colon cancer is preventable and treatable when found early, the bad news is that only 65% of adults age 50 to 75 are up-to-date with the recommended screening for colorectal cancer, meaning that 23 million adults are not getting tested as recommended.

While awareness of colon cancer screening is high, the fact remains that colonoscopies and other screening tests for colon cancer are perceived as invasive, embarrassing, uncomfortable, unpleasant, and expensive.  The American Cancer Society is here to help health care professionals understand patient barriers to getting screened and to help them overcome those barriers. Working together, we want to spread the message that there are screening options available, including simple take home options, and that everyone should talk to their doctor or health care professional about getting screened.

Earlier this year, the OACHC made a pledge to increase colorectal screening rates by supporting the 80% by 2018 initiative, led by the American Cancer Society, the CDC and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable.  We are excited to partner with OACHC and you on this important campaign and hope it will lead to more collaboration and success in providing colorectal screening options to your patients. 

There are five things that you can do to be a part of 80% by 2018:

1. Understand the power of the physician recommendation.  Recommend colorectal screening to your patients ages 50 and older, as well as to younger patients at an increased risk of disease.  They may need to start screening at an earlier age.
2. Measure the colorectal cancer screening rate in your practice; it may not be as high as you think.
3. Use evidenced-based practice changes to systematize screening in your office.  More screening doesn’t have to mean more work for you.
4. Understand the screening options for colorectal cancer. Educate your patients and staff on the various testing options.
5. Make sure that patients and staff understand that most insurance companies are required to cover colorectal cancer screening.

 

80% by 2018

The 80% by 2018 handout

The American Cancer Society has many resources on how to increase screening rates in practice.  A great place to start is  cancer.org/colonmd.  For more information about the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable and 80% by 2018, go to: http://nccrt.org/tools/80-percent-by-2018/.


The 80% by 2018 initiative is an extraordinary effort, and we can all do our part toward eliminating colon cancer as a major health problem.  Thanks for all you do to improve the health of those in your communities every day, and thank you for helping to spread the message of the importance of colon cancer screening.