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National Colorectal Cancer Campaign Announced by CDC, HCFA and NCI

"Screen for Life" launched in response to new data revealing that
too few Americans use colorectal cancer screening for early detection and prevention

A national campaign to educate Americans 50 and older about colorectal cancer - the nation's number two cancer killer - was launched today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Screen for Life campaign informs Americans 50 and older, the age group most at risk for colorectal cancer, about the importance of colorectal cancer screening tests for early detection and prevention of the disease.

The campaign was launched as new evidence was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showing significant reduction in colorectal cancer deaths associated with regular screening.

"The good news is that we can prevent many deaths from colorectal cancer through screening," said Surgeon General David Satcher. "If you've celebrated your 50th birthday and have never been screened for colorectal cancer, start now to screen for life."

Colorectal cancer, or cancer of the colon or rectum, is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer-related death in the United States. An estimated 129,400 men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1999, and more than 56,000 lives will be lost to this disease. Many colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented with screening.

Most Americans 50 and older, however, do not get screening tests for colorectal cancer. CDC recently released data showing that only 41 percent of men and women of that age are having either of the two most commonly recommended screening tests, home-administered blood stool tests or sigmoidoscopy/proctoscopy (physician examinations of the rectum and lower colon), within the recommended time intervals.

As proposed by President Clinton, new Medicare preventive benefits including colorectal cancer screening were enacted in 1997 and went into effect last year. Today's campaign is aimed at encouraging Medicare beneficiaries and others to take advantage of screening to reduce colorectal cancer in the United States.

"Medicare took a big step forward in covering preventive benefits," Nancy-Ann DeParle, HCFA administrator said. "Now, through Screen for Life, we're able to promote healthy aging and help beneficiaries take an active role in their health."

The Screen for Life campaign includes public service announcements and information materials targeting Americans 50 and older. The campaign also will promote the new Medicare coverage of colorectal cancer screening procedures.

Most colorectal cancers begin first as small growths, called polyps, inside the colon or rectum. Screening can detect these growths; removing them can prevent cancer.

In the Journal article released today, researchers at the University of Minnesota reported on an 18-year study which extends their findings that screening for blood in the stool can reduce mortality from colorectal cancer. The team, led by Jack Mandel, Ph.D., professor of public health, found that annual screening with a simple and inexpensive fecal occult blood test can lead to a 33 percent reduction in mortality, and that biennial screening (every two years) results in a 21 percent drop in mortality.

CDC and other health organizations, including the American Cancer Society and gastroenterologic organizations, support the blood stool test or a combination of several tests for colorectal cancer screening.

CDC, the nation's disease prevention agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for promoting health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. CDC's efforts in colorectal cancer prevention education have included funding for innovative strategies at the state and national levels, development of epidemiological research and surveillance systems for monitoring national trends, and coordination of a national roundtable to prevent colorectal cancer.

For more information, visit the Screen for Life web site: www.cdc.gov/cancer/screenforlife. Also learn more about colorectal cancer screening by calling NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER; to order Screen for Life campaign materials, call 1-888-842-6355. For more information about Medicare benefits, visit www.medicare.gov.

Note: U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher will be available for interviews 1-2 p.m. EST on March 2, 1999. Contact Kathy Harben at (770) 488-5131 to arrange for interviews. In addition, satellite feed of Surgeon General interview, plus B-roll, will be available at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST. Satellite coordinates are: 11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (EST) Galaxy 6 (C-band)/Transponder 5, 6.2/6.8 audio (standard) and 2:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (EST) Galaxy 6 (C-band)/Transponder 12, 6.2/6.8 audio (standard).

Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: www.hhs.gov.