Colorectal Cancer

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Colorectal Cancer

Task Force

Breaking News…

The USPSTF Puts out a draft recommendation to lower the colorectal cancer screening age to 45. 

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced its intent to recommend that colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings begin at 45 years old for individuals at average risk. The majority of health insurance carriers in the United States will follow the USPSTF recommendation once finalized. This means that people age 45 and older will, in most cases, be eligible for insurance reimbursement for CRC screening. This recommendation lowers the USPSTF’s recommendation from 50 to 45, and aligns with the American Cancer Society’s 2018 recommendation that screening begin at age 45 based on an analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The recommendation is now in draft form and open for public comment.

Action item: Send your comments to the USPSTF https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/advocacy/

Next up for us : While our bill didn’t pass in 2020, we will be planning to get it through in 2021. If you would like to join us, please email us.

Task Force Mission

The Colorectal Cancer Task Force is the only statewide group in Colorado that allows peer-to-peer engagement, learning and collective action to support colorectal cancer initiatives, throughout the continuum of care.

Co-Chairs

Mag Phillips, Co-Chair

Mag Phillips, Co-Chair

Contact Mag
Ian Kahn, Co-Chair

Ian Kahn, Co-Chair

Contact Ian

Member organizations

  • American Cancer Society
  • Colon Cancer Alliance
  • Colorado Colon and Rectal Specialists
  • Colorado Colorectal Screening Program
  • Colorado Community Health Network
  • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  • Denver Health and Medical Center
  • Gastroenterology of the Rockies
  • Lutheran (SCL Health)
  • Penrose Cancer Center
  • Sky Ridge Medical Center
  • Summit Community Care Clinic
  • University of Colorado Cancer Center

Task Force Action Plan

Goal 1: Engage with 4 employers, following the CRC Task Force mini grant application’s detailed Action Plan, to provide education to employees, adopt CRC screening policy and improve screening rates by June 2021.

Goal 2:  Enhance March (public) awareness efforts by holding 4 educational webinars/Task Force presentations, 4 media releases  (op-eds, press releases), partnering with 2 community organizations and sustain the awareness efforts throughout the year, by June 2021.

Goal 3: Improve provider knowledge around CRC screening guidelines and shared decision making – Present at provider conferences, webinars to professional organizations, procure a list of organizations to contact and who has those contacts – who will we target and how – by June 2021.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

2020 Colorado March Awareness Plans

Download the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Media Kit

Early Screening Essential to CRC Prevention and Increasing Cure Rate

The Personal and Financial Value of an Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Program for Employers

CRC Awareness Month Resources 2017 – Support Groups and resources

80 by 2018 Pledge  – Take the pledge to embrace the shared goal of 80% screened by 2018.

Meeting Information

This Task Force meetings monthly. Sign up for updates using the button below. Or contact the Chairs using the buttons on the right to learn more.

Join the Colorectal Cancer Task Force

Task Force Meeting Minutes

Colorectal Cancer Task Force Current Work

Expanding Membership – Recruiting participants to strengthen the reach of the task force, including survivors, advocates, clinicians, researchers, employers, administrators, public health professionals, industry representatives, and more.
Provider Education – Developing educational tools and resources, including presentations, for various audiences: providers (specialty and primary), public, community, public health. Developing educational messages to engage diverse communities. Present to stakeholder groups about importance of colorectal cancer screening and spread awareness across the state. Support knowledge sharing about physician and practice education/outreach efforts.
Speaker’s Bureau – Coordinating with the Screening Coordinating Committee, identifying expert speakers to cover all cancers (including colorectal cancer) throughout the state. Creating presentation templates and directory of experts for speaker requests throughout the year. 
 
“Links of Care” Package – Creating a toolkit of information for interested partners to facilitate discussion and set up a system for donated colonoscopies with hospital systems in Colorado.
 
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Planning – Developing communication plan and task force specific outreach and events for March to promote Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. March 2017 Media can be accessed here.

In the News

Photographer, cancer survivor captures wildlife through the windows of his car

Colorectal Cancer Task Force Successes

FDA Approved Cologuard, a noninvasive colorectal cancer screening, is now a Medicare and Medicaid approved screening test. See slides – Cologuard Information

Signed the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s 80% by 2018 Pledge.

Members from the Colon Cancer Alliance presented the University of Colorado Cancer Center a check from the 2016 Undy for $52,000. The University of Colorado Cancer Center (in alliance with the Colorectal Cancer Task Force) has been able to provide over 350 no-cost screenings as a CCA Blue Hope Partner. Researchers with the University mentioned that 85% of those receiving these screenings identified as Hispanic and 20% are high-risk individuals under age 50.

Presented to the Colorado Business Group on Health in February 2017 to provide employers with tools and resources for employers who decide to take action to promote 80% screening by 2018.

Hosted a Candlelight Vigil in Denver in March 2017 to honor the progress made towards reducing the burden of colorectal cancer and to recognize all those touched by this devastating disease.