The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is funding a Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) across the United States for five years to help 25 states and 4 tribes combine the efforts of their communities and partner organizations to change the face of colorectal cancer screening. The CRCCP’s goal is to increase colorectal cancer screening rates among men and women aged 50 years and older from about 64% to 80% in the funded states by 2014. According to the CDC, from 2004 – 2006, approximately half of colorectal cancer cases were diagnosed at a late stage of disease. An increase in screening rates will reduce illness and death caused by colorectal cancer.
The CRCCP incorporates screening promotion and screening provisions. Local CRCCP programs collaborate with local comprehensive cancer control programs and other partners to share resources for efficiency. They also provide colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care to low-income men and women aged 50–64 years who are underinsured or uninsured for screening, when no other payment option is available.
The CRCCP states include Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington. Tribal organizations include the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the Arctic Slope Native Association, the South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency, and Southcentral Foundation.
To find out more contact a local department: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/crccp/contacts.htm