March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. While much progress has been made in fighting this deadly disease since Congress first designated the awareness month in 2000, colorectal cancer remains the third most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in the United States and is a leading cause of cancer deaths in people younger than 50. Fortunately, colorectal cancer is highly preventable and treatable when caught early, and knowing early warning signs can help patients have more open discussions with their physician about concerning symptoms and screening options.
Throughout March, American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) experts will be available to speak to media members to discuss what everyone should know about colorectal cancer.
The National Cancer Database (NCDB) is a clinical oncology database jointly operated by the American College of Surgeons CoC and the American Cancer Society. Capturing about 74% of all cancer cases diagnosed in the United States, the database is considered one of the most comprehensive for cancer care. Data is derived only from CoC-accredited hospitals but largely reflects the state of cancer care nationwide.
According to the NCDB:
There are significant disparities in colorectal cancer screening and outcomes among different patient populations:
Screening for colorectal cancer saves lives, and should begin at age 45 for people at average risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. People with a family history of colorectal cancer should be screened 10 years earlier than the youngest age of diagnosis in their family.
Unfortunately, the CDC estimates that only about 70% of U.S. adults aged 50 to 75 are up to date on their screening, and much of the population may not be aware of all the screening options available to them.
There are several options available for colorectal cancer screening:
American College of Surgeons experts recommend that colonoscopy remains the gold standard of screening options for colorectal cancer, but overall, choosing any screening option is better than not getting screened at all.
There are many options for where to receive care after a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Patients should look signifiers of quality such as:
These two accreditation programs are among the many ACS Quality Programs through which hospitals can become an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. The ACS Surgical Quality Partner diamond is a signifier that can help patients seek out hospitals committed to delivering the highest quality of care.