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Notice to Readers: National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This health observance was created in 2000 to increase awareness
of the importance of regular screening to save lives and
decrease the national burden of colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon
or rectum). Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, after lung/bronchus cancer.
In 2002, a total of 139,534 adults in the United States had colorectal cancer diagnosed, and 56,603 adults died
from colorectal cancer (1). The impact of colorectal cancer can be lessened through regular screening, which has been shown
to reduce incidence and mortality (2).
CDC directly supports National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month through its Colorectal Cancer Prevention and
Control Initiative, which includes "Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer
Action Campaign" (SFL), research related to
colorectal cancer prevention and control, and activities aimed at increasing colorectal cancer screening. In addition, through its
National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, CDC funds state-based programs to better maximize resources,
improve community-based education and health promotion, share expertise, and effectively target at-risk populations. This year,
the funded states implementing colorectal cancer prevention and control activities include Alabama, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York,
North Carolina, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.
CDC and other public health agencies encourage all persons aged
>50 years in the United States to discuss colorectal
cancer screening options with their health-care providers. Health consumers can learn more about preventing colorectal
cancer through routine screening by becoming familiar with the SFL campaign, which is designed to provide clear and
concise information about colorectal cancer screening to adults aged
>50 years.
Public health measures to increase awareness and encourage regular colorectal cancer screening starting at age 50 years
are important to achieve the Healthy People 2010
to reduce colorectal cancer deaths (objective no. 3-5)
(3), and meet CDC's health protection goal of increasing the number of adults who live longer, high-quality, productive, and independent
lives (http://www.cdc.gov/about/goals). Additional
information regarding the SFL campaign and CDC's national colorectal
cancer prevention programs is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/colorectalcancer. Information regarding CDC's comprehensive
cancer control program is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ncccp/index.htm.
References
US Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States cancer statistics: 1999--2002 incidence and mortality. Atlanta, GA: US Department of
Health and Human Services, CDC, National Cancer Institute; 2005. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr/uscs/index.htm.
Pignone M, Rich M, Teutsch SM, et al. Screening for colorectal cancer in adults at average risk: a summary of the evidence for the U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2002;137:132--41.
US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy people 2010. 2nd ed. With understanding and improving health and objectives
for improving health. 2 vols. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, November 2000. Available at
http://www.healthypeople.gov.
Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are
provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply
endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content
of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of
the date of publication.
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