http://www.ccalliance.org/releases/news_releases_011212.html

Many thanks to the Colon Cancer Alliance for sharing this funding opportunity.

Join us at the Dialogue on March 22-23, 2012,
at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel.

Register now for the 2012 Dialogue for Action on Colorectal Cancer Screening: Today’s Progress, Tomorrow’s Challenge.

Click to view the agenda and to register for the conference.

The 14th in a series of annual national conferences convened by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the 2012 Dialogue will tackle the issue of healthcare delivery in general and of colorectal cancer screening in particular at this critical time in our nation’s history. Other topics include:

• Ways to keep increasing CRC screening rates
• Cancer screening in primary-care practice
• Issues in the screening modalities of stool-based testing and colonoscopy
• Implications of the oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the Health Care Reform Law
• And what promises to be a lively discussion about perspectives on cancer screening in the media!

We are delighted that Susan Dentzer, editor-in-chief of Health Affairs and former health analyst on the PBS News Hour, will moderate the keynote panel “Health Care of the Future: Keeping Quality Up and Costs Down.” We are also excited to announce that Bob Baker, a CRC survivor who biked 4,000 miles across the country this year, will speak on the importance of CRC screening.

Continuing education credits for physicians, nursing professionals and certified health educators will be available again this year.

Information about the conference, hotel and travel, the agenda, exhibits, and other details are available at www.dialogueforaction.org.

For questions about registration contact Mary Ann Troyano at matroyano@aol.com or 703.425.1334.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2012 Dialogue for Action!

The $1 million would be matched by a new private foundation called the Kentucky Cancer Foundation.

In related news, House Bill 55, which would appropriate $8 million for the screening program, was passed unanimously last week by the House Health & Welfare Committee.

It will next go to Appropriations and Revenue. We are hopeful that with Gov. Beshear’s proposal and with the work going on with House Bill 55, funds will be included in the budget as it is finalized in the coming months.

This funding will allow for 4,000 uninsured Kentuckians to be screened for colon cancer.

Click here to access the guidelines article here.

As many of you know, this campaign focuses on the importance of learning about your family history of colorectal cancer, sharing this information with your doctor and loved ones and getting the younger generations to start conversations about health and screening.

We have some exciting tools to help promote our Family PLZ! campaign that are free and available for use by Roundtable members, including:

• Downloadable posters and palm cards,
• Facebook application,
• Animated video, and
• Web banner ads.

These tools and other resources can be found at familyplz.org/materials –  we hope you will reach out to your audiences and spread the word about Family PLZ! and colorectal cancer.  Use the tools now, in March…or to compliment your CRC awareness efforts throughout the year.

Remember…if you need help adding your organization’s logo to the material, you can contact familyplz@edelman.com for help.

Other good news…more information will be coming soon about free hard copies of posters and palm cards available to Roundtable members.

Thank you to Amy Manela, Paul Limburg, Jasmine Greenamyer, Durado Brooks, Debbie Kirkland, Robert Smith, Maggie Breslin, Meggan Hood, Anne Major, Melonie Thomas, Dale Mintz, Linda Aukett, Ann Favreau, Jo-Ellen De Luca, Anita Mitchell, Nicole Engler, Gregory Davault, Steve Telliano, Kristen Sullivan, Keona Graves, Kelley Smithey, Kari Miskit, Stony Anderson, Jewell Sparks, Sandra Robinson, Lisa Boardman, Christine Chastain, Robert Haile, Sean Brainerd, and the talented group at Design Matters for their extensive work on this project.   Talk about a team effort!

Thank you again for being a part of the NCCRT!!

Mary Doroshenk, MA
Director, National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
American Cancer Society

Also can  you include the link to the blog below.  Thank you!!

http://stopcoloncancernow.com/latest-news/blog/new-years-resolution-talk-to-my-family

This year’s overall winner was the Washington state Colon Cancer STARS, which had an inspiring, interactive visual display of the Blue Star at a Rotary Club race for colorectal cancer awareness in Mercer Island, Washington. The organization, which is made up of volunteers and survivors, focuses on support, awareness, resources, and screening for colon cancer prevention. The group painted a huge blue star on the grass and invited passersby to sign little flags that they then put in the star, helping to get the public’s attention, raise awareness about screening and celebrate survivorship. The entry was submitted by Anita Mitchell of Washington Colon Cancer STARS.

The American Cancer Society Eastern Division was recognized for the most attention- grabbing strategy for their Tag2Nag Facebook campaign. The campaign, submitted by Michelle Tropper, Ashley Engelman, and Jennifer Coulombe, is a Facebook-based intervention in which users can “tag” other users in a series of images with messaging that will “nag” them to get screened for colon cancer.

The Center for Colon Cancer Research at the University of South Carolina was recognized for originality for their Photo Book, which captured their March 2011 Blue is the New Black campaign. The campaign was designed to make colon cancer prevention fashionable. They enlisted cancer champions – cancer survivors, family members, doctors, scientists, government leaders, business owners, and executives – to help start a public dialogue and shed light on the fact that people are embarrassed or afraid to talk about colorectal cancer. Working with a team of experts, including fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo and celebrity stylist Laura Schuffman, the champions were adorned from head to toe in the latest blue star trends, photographed, and featured in a Blue Star Trends photo book. The entry was submitted by project director Anjee Davis.

The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital /Weill Cornell Medical Center Make That Call campaign in New York City was recognized for its ability to spread awareness. The campaign boiled down the screening message to a very tangible action step – for all New Yorkers 50 and older to make that call to their doctor to schedule a colon cancer screening test. As part of the Make That Call campaign, the center collaborated with Katie Couric, WCBS, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Citywide Colon Cancer Control Coalition (C5), New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, American Cancer Society, Colon Cancer Alliance, Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation, and Prevent Cancer Foundation, as well as the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Library with over 200 library branches in all five boroughs; Duane Reade with over 200 stores in all five boroughs; New York Health & Racquet Club; Talbots; Juva Spa; and other participating businesses and organizations, to help increase colon cancer awareness and screening. The campaign included print public service announcements (PSAs), outdoor digital billboards, and television and online broadcast PSAs featuring Katie Couric and Dr. Travis Stork from CBS’ The Doctors. The entry was submitted on behalf of Tamar Wallace of the Jay Monahan Center.

CVS Pharmacy’s Raising Awareness of Colon Cancer effort was recognized for their educational strategy. A unique collaboration among CVS Caremark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, and the Center for Colon Cancer Research at the University of South Carolina took advantage of the various touch points that CVS Caremark has with millions of individuals both locally in South Carolina and through their nationwide Web presence to educate the public about colon cancer and the importance of screening. The Blue Star was displayed prominently on the company’s Web site, on printed receipts, and on pins worn by employees. Laura Long, MD, of Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina; Michele Polgar, RpH, MBA, and Stephen Reyes, RPh, DM, of CVS Caremark; and Franklin Berger, PhD, of the Center for Colon Cancer Research, were recognized for their work. The entry was submitted by Anjee Davis of the Center for Colon Cancer Research.

Bob Baker was recognized for his inspirational strategy – a three-month, 4,000-mile bicycle ride, supported by the United Ostomy Association of America (UOAA), across the northern tier of the United States. He and two other cyclists spread the message of hope, inspiration, and education about living with an ostomy. Baker is a colorectal cancer survivor and a past vice president of UOAA, as well as a Colondar model and a regional recipient of the Great Comebacks Award. Linda Aukett of UOAA submitted the entry.

“These individuals and organizations are using creative, innovative, and thought-provoking strategies to raise awareness of colon cancer and the importance of screening,” said Dr. Thomas Weber, chair of the NCCRT. “We at the Roundtable encourage the entire cancer community to spread the message about the importance of colorectal cancer screening and to help unify our efforts through the use of the Blue Star as a symbol of hope for a future free of colon cancer.”

Introduced in 2004, the Blue Star is the universal symbol for colorectal cancer that raises awareness about how to prevent colorectal cancer, the nation’s third-leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. The Roundtable encourages organizations to incorporate the Blue Star and the universal message that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable into their communications and awareness efforts.
Established in 1997 by the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Roundtable is a national coalition whose ultimate goal is to increase the use of proven colorectal cancer screening tests among the entire population for whom screening is appropriate. The Roundtable is chaired by Thomas K. Weber, MD, professor of surgery at the State University of New York at Downstate and chief of surgery at the Department of Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus.

These reports will be shared with all members to allow us to see activities underway that contribute to our shared life saving mission.   Please return the completed form to Mary Doroshenk at mdoroshenk@cancer.org no later than close of business Friday, October 21st.

Dear NCCRT Members,

It may only be August, but we’re already gearing up for National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 2012! As most of you already know, a family history of colorectal cancer is associated with increased risk for the disease. That’s why we want this March to revolve around awareness of family history.

We’re excited to update you on the launch of a new campaign called Family PLZ that will be available for use by Roundtable members to supplement your March efforts. Family PLZ was developed by students at the Art Center College of Design – in consultation with the American Cancer Society, the Mayo Clinic, the Colon Cancer Alliance and other Roundtable members. Family PLZ is all about getting the younger generations to start conversations with family members about their history of colorectal cancer – or colon polyps — and share this information with their doctor and loved ones. The campaign emphasizes that colon cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable, and that everyone should begin regular screening at age 50, or earlier if they fall into a high risk group.

NCCRT Members will have access to the following promotional tools:

Family PLZ website
Posters
Facebook application
Animated video
Banner ads
E-signature campaign
These tools will allow you to reach out to your local audiences and spread the word about family history and colon cancer.
Stay tuned for the launch of Family PLZ this fall and information about how to download these tools for free. We hope these tools will be helpful to you, as we look to unify and magnify each others’ efforts about the life savings steps we can each take to prevent this disease.

Thank you for being a part of the NCCRT, and best of luck in all of your important efforts during March and throughout the year.

Mary Doroshenk, MA
Director, National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
American Cancer Society

Hey guys, I have a new tool kit! It’s great!

Press Release

Embargoed for 12 p.m. ET

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Contact: Division of News & Electronic Media

(404) 639-3286

Colorectal Cancer: Second Most Deadly Cancer Can Be Stopped Before It

Starts

Nearly two thirds of Americans screened by 2010, but 22 million who need

to be screened still haven’t been

The No. 2 cancer killer in the United States, colorectal cancer, could

get bumped down from its ranking if more people get screened. The rate

of adults developing and dying from colorectal cancer has decreased,

according to a new Vital Signs report released today by the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention.

The rate of new cases of colorectal cancer fell from 52.3 per 100,000 in

2003 to 45.4 per 100,000 in 2007, representing nearly 66,000 fewer

cancers. The colorectal cancer death rate fell from 19.0 per 100,000 in

2003 to 16.7 per 100,000 in 2007, representing nearly 32,000 fewer

deaths, the report says. The estimated direct medical cost of colorectal

cancer was $14 billion in 2010; for each person who died of colorectal

cancer in 2006, the lost productivity costs were $15.3 billion, or about

$288,468 per person, the report says.

The report finds that colorectal cancer screening increased overall from

52 percent in 2002 to 65 percent in 2010. Still, about 1 in 3 people

between the ages of 50 and 75 are not up to date with recommended

colorectal cancer screening.

“Colon cancer can be prevented, and we are making progress in getting

more people screened,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.

“Those who receive these life-saving screening tests can lead longer,

healthier and more productive lives. Saving our nation the health care

costs associated with treating colon cancer is an additional benefit.”

Screening is recommended for men and women beginning at age 50, using

one or a combination of these screenings:

* Fecal occult blood test (FOBT), done at home every year, * Flexible

sigmoidoscopy, done every five years, with FOBT done every three years,

* Colonoscopy, done every 10 years.

The report, published online at

www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns, used 2002-2010

survey data from the state-level Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance

System to determine the number of people aged 50-75 years who were

screened for colorectal cancer.

Data on the number of new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed during

2003-2007 are from the CDC National Program of Cancer Registries and the

National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results

Program. Cancer deaths are based on information from the CDC National

Vital Statistics System.

Significant findings include:

* Colorectal cancer death rates decreased significantly in 49 states and

Washington, D.C., with the largest declines in states with some of the

highest screening prevalence, between 2003 and 2007. Across the nation,

death rates decreased by 3 percent per year between 2003 and 2007.

* In 2007, Washington, D.C. reported the highest number of colorectal

cancer deaths per 100,000 people (21.1); Montana and Colorado reported

the lowest (14.1).

* Colorectal cancer incidence rates declined significantly in 35 states

between 2003 and 2007. The highest number of colorectal cancer cases per

100,000 people was reported in North Dakota (56.9); Utah had the lowest

number of cases (34.3).

To help get more people screened:

* The Affordable Care Act will reduce financial barriers to screening by

expanding insurance coverage and eliminating co-payments and

deductibles. Other efforts are needed, such as developing systems that

identify individuals eligible for cancer screening tests, actively

encouraging the use of screening tests, and monitoring participation to

improve screening rates.

* Federal, state and local public health departments can work with the

State Primary Care Association or Federally Qualified Health Centers to

implement methods for reminding patients and providers about the

importance of colorectal cancer screening as recommended by The Guide to

Community Preventive Services.

* The CDC Colorectal Cancer Control Program funds 25 states and four

tribal organizations for the use of population-based approaches to

increase screening among men and women aged 50 years and older.

Population-based approaches include:

1. Policy and health systems change

2. Outreach

3. Case management

4. Selective provision of direct screening services.

For more information about CDC efforts to prevent colorectal cancer,

visit

www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal and www.cdc.gov/screenforlife.

About CDC Vital Signs

Vital Signs is a CDC report that appears on the first Tuesday of the

month as part of the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,

or MMWR. The new report provides the latest data and information on key

health indicators. These are cancer prevention, obesity, tobacco use,

alcohol use, HIV/AIDS, motor vehicle passenger safety, health

care-associated infections, cardiovascular health, teen pregnancy,

asthma, and food safety.

CDC works 24/7 saving lives, protecting people from health threats, and

saving money to have a more secure nation. CDC puts science and

prevention into action to make the healthy choice the easy choice. CDC

helps people live longer, healthier and more productive lives.