Colorectal Cancer Screening Options and Statistics: Get the Conversation Started Today

07/19/2023

The second of a four-part series on Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screenings

Thank you for your continued support and interest in colorectal cancer screenings for our members. Please refer to the June 2023 Blue Review publication for first article titled, Colon Cancer Screenings Goal: 80% In Every Community

Colorectal Cancer screening can save lives only if it gets done

  • In 2023, there will be an estimated 153,020 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the US and 52,550 people will die from the disease.
  • Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the US when men and women are combined
  • 1 in 23 men and 1 in 26 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
  • Colorectal cancer is estimated to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for 20-49-year-olds by 2030. 1

Almost all major guidelines recommend screenings start for average risk individuals at age 45 and continue through to age 75. Those screenings include the most accurate and thorough screening, the colonoscopy, followed by other recommendations, the guaiac fecal occult blood test [FOBT], fecal immunochemical test [FIT], mt-sDNA, CT colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy. Based on the patient’s risk, any out-of-pocket-costs, and mutually agreed upon appropriateness based on the patient’s circumstances, any of the recommended screenings are better than none at all.

Be very attentive to the following populations, who are most likely NOT to be screened?

  • Ages 50-54, followed by ages 45-49
  • Equally, American Indian or Native Alaskan and Hispanic
  • Less than a high school education
  • Income of <100% Federal Poverty Level1

Start the Conversation!

What has the greatest influence on someone getting screened? The one-on-one conversation between the provider and the patient.

In 2023, it is estimated there will be 12,220 new cases of colorectal cancer and an estimated 4,350 Texas residents will die of that cancer in 2023.2

Your recommendation that your patients get screened for colorectal cancer carries the greatest impact for colorectal cancer screening compliance.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in colorectal cancer screenings for our members.

References

1.       National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. 2023. https://nccrt.org/

2.       Society A. C. (2023) Cancer Statistics Center, Retrieved from https://cancernstatisticscenter.cancer.org/#!/state/Texas