Cancer Prevention Works: Commit to Reducing Your Risk

National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable Celebrates Progress and Promotes Action Collaboration. Commitment. Community. That’s the lasting impression from the events held on March 7, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia, to kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) 80% in Every Community campaign. Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC), NCCRT, and American Cancer Society (ACS) co-hosted the events. There were about 140 in-person attendees, 700 individual livestreams, and 88 watch parties of the live broadcast; additionally, #80inEveryCommunity reached 3.5 million Twitter accounts with 74 million impressions. Activities included two events: A festive morning social media rally, hosted by Fight CRC, officially launched NCCRT’s 80% in Every Community campaign. Public health professionals, community leaders, and colorectal cancer survivors stopped by to spread awareness about colorectal cancer and encourage people to get screened. This event was held in the beautiful UPS Suite in Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium. The three afternoon panel discussions, hosted at the ACS Headquarters, featured the nation's leading cancer control experts, cancer survivors, and NCCRT Award winners from across the country who successfully increased their colorectal cancer screening rates. The panelists shared personal stories and strategies for increasing colorectal cancer screening with the goal of achieving 80% screening in every community nationwide. Dr. Lisa Richardson, director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, discussed the role of CDC’s data in identifying where screening is needed most and supporting strategies to reach those communities. The events sparked awareness and promoted action to prevent colorectal cancer. Learn more about 80% in Every Community. Read More

Colorectal Cancer: Know Your Risk. Get Screened. The risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older, but some factors can put people at a higher risk. Conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and certain genetic syndromes can put you at a higher risk for colorectal cancer. Your risk for colorectal cancer may also be higher if you or a relative has a history of colorectal polyps (abnormal growths) or colorectal cancer. Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended beginning at age 50. People with a higher risk for colorectal cancer may need to start screening at an earlier age and get tested more often than others. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or have a condition that puts you at a higher risk, talk to your doctor about when you should be screened. Getting screened regularly can prevent colorectal cancer or find it early when there is a greater chance that treatment can lead to a cure. Learn what you can do to reduce your risk for colorectal cancer. Find out what questions you should ask your doctor about colorectal cancer. Read More Cancer and Deep Vein Thrombosis Cancer and some types of cancer treatments can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that occurs in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm. When DVT occurs, it often includes swelling, pain, tenderness, and redness of the skin, but for some people, there may not be any symptoms. DVT can cause serious complications if a part of the blood clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage called pulmonary embolism (PE). Knowing your risk for DVT is important because complications can include serious illness, disability, and in some cases, death. DVT can be prevented and treated if discovered early. You can reduce your risk of a blood clot by avoiding an inactive lifestyle, keeping a healthy weight, and following your doctor’s recommendations related to the factors that increase your risk. During March, DVT Awareness Month, CDC will provide resources including information and helpful tips about blood clots. Read More Blog Post Discusses Help for Cancer Survivors to Quit Smoking According to a recent study looking at smoking attitudes and practices of cancer survivors, many attempted to quit smoking within the past year. In a recent blog post, CDC’s Dr. Shane Gallaway, discusses the important role of health professionals in educating cancer survivors about the impact from continuing to smoke. Health professionals can provide cessation counseling and refer cancer survivors to resources to help them quit smoking. Dr. Gallaway shares his experience as a former smoker and reflects on how the loss of a family member to cancer motivates him to educate people about preventing cancer, getting timely and accurate care, and increasing the quality of life for cancer survivors. Read More

Upcoming Event Join the Alliance to Advance Patient Centered Cancer Care for a webinar, The Oncology Care Model: Implications for Cancer Care Delivery and Payment Reform, featuring  Dr. Michael Kolodziej, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of ADVI Health. Dr. Kolodziej will discuss the Oncology Care Model, results of the model, and cancer care payment reform. Date and Time: April 11, 2019, 2:00 – 3:00pm EST Register for this webinar by April 9, 2019.