What CDC Is Doing About Colorectal Cancer

CDC aims to reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates among adults aged 50 years or older, an endeavor that furthers the agency's overarching goal of ensuring that people are healthy in every stage of life. CDC's colorectal cancer initiatives include—

Programs

CDC established a colorectal cancer screening demonstration program at five sites across the United States to increase screening among low-income men and women who have inadequate or no health insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening. The sites serve varied geographic areas and are funded from 2005 through 2009—

• Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene—city-based (Baltimore)
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services—city-based (St. Louis)
• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services—statewide
• Stony Brook University Medical Center/SUNY, New York—county-based (Suffolk county)
• Public Health-Seattle and King County, Washington—county-based (Clallam, Jefferson, and King counties)

In addition to colorectal cancer screening, the program sites also provide diagnostic follow-up; conduct public education and outreach; ensure tracking and follow-up of clients screened; provide case management; establish standards, systems, policies, and procedures; develop partnerships; collect and track data; and evaluate the effectiveness of the demonstration program.

Research

CDC conducts a variety of colorectal cancer research activities—

• Analyzing colorectal cancer screening rates from ongoing national surveillance systems, such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the National Health Interview Survey.
• Forming expert task groups and networks to improve the quality of colorectal cancer screening, including the development of a standardized colonoscopy reporting and data system (CO-RADS).
• Funding projects across the nation to identify effective intervention approaches for promoting colorectal cancer screening among diverse populations.
• Assessing prevention behaviors among colorectal cancer survivors.
• Assessing the impact of socioeconomic and cultural factors on colorectal cancer survivor participation in post-treatment colon examinations.
• Measuring costs, cost efficiencies, and potential cost savings from colorectal cancer screening.

Awareness and Education

CDC's Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign is a multimedia effort promoting colorectal cancer screening. First launched in 1999, this campaign informs Americans, particularly men and women aged 50 years or older, about colorectal cancer and the importance of routine screening.

Other Activities

CDC also contributes to the fight against colorectal cancer by—

• Translating research into public health programs, practices, and services.
• Building state and national partnerships.
• Monitoring and reporting on national screening rates.
• Increasing awareness of screening guidelines among health care providers.
• Promoting increased patient-provider communication about colorectal cancer screening.

These and other public health efforts that address colorectal cancer support CDC's overarching goal of healthy people in every stage of life. They also address the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People 2010 goals of reducing the colorectal cancer death rate by 34% and increasing the proportion of adults who receive a colorectal cancer screening examination.

Ongoing Work

CDC promotes national colorectal cancer awareness, education, and screening nationally by—

• Funding state programs to implement specific colorectal cancer strategies identified in their statewide cancer control plans, through the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.
• Supporting epidemiologic, surveillance, and behavioral science research designed to expand the knowledge base and guide future interventions related to colorectal cancer. The results of this research help CDC focus its policies, programs, and campaigns on effective ways to increase screening rates, improve the quality of screening, and reduce deaths from colorectal cancer.
• Working with partners such as the American Cancer Society to support the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, a coalition of organizations that educates medical providers and the public about the importance of colorectal cancer screening.

Future Directions

CDC plans to expand its colorectal cancer prevention and control initiative to—

• Evaluate and expand the community-based colorectal cancer screening demonstration programs.
• Increase support for research focused on improving colorectal cancer screening rates.
• Increase support for states, tribes/tribal organizations, and territories that are engaged in comprehensive approaches to preventing and controlling colorectal cancer.