CRC News: March 16, 2026
Welcome to a supersized March edition of CRC News, the American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT) newsletter for ACS NCCRT members and partners working together to save more lives from colorectal cancer (CRC). We wish you all a very productive National CRC Awareness Month!
2026 ACS NCCRT National Achievement Award Winners Announced
This Year’s Winners Span the Cancer Continuum While Using Best Practices
Today the ACS NCCRT is honoring four organizations for their extraordinary work to to reduce the incidence of and mortality from CRC across the U.S.. with the 2026 National Achievement Award. This award is a prestigious national honor with a history of recognizing organizations and individuals for their distinguished, ongoing efforts to improve CRC outcomes in their communities. This year’s recipients are ScreeND at Quality Health Associates of North Dakota (Grand Prize, CRCCP), the Bridging Research Innovation Advocacy and Value-Centric Excellence in Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Health System Treatment Program), the Fred Hutch/ UW Medicine Population Health Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (Health System Screening Program), and MNGI Digestive Health (Links to Care Program).
This year, we saw the most nominations we’ve ever received and were inspired by all the great work our members and partners are doing across the US. Look forward to seeing their work highlighted throughout the next year on the ACS NCCRT website, on webinars, and at the 2026 ACS NCCRT Annual Meeting.
“Our 2026 awardees represent the very best of what’s happening across the CRC prevention and care landscape. Their dedication to improving screening rates, reducing disparities, strengthening patient support, and expanding access to lifesaving services is truly exceptional. The ACS NCCRT is proud to recognize their achievements and to celebrate the meaningful difference they are making nationwide,” said Gloria D. Coronado, PhD, Associate Director for Population Sciences at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Arizona, and ACS NCCRT Vice-Chair.
We hope you will join us in recognizing their accomplishments by viewing and sharing the press release, amplifying our posts on social media (X and LinkedIn), and registering to learn more about the grand prize winner during our National CRC Awareness Month Webcast this Wednesday, March 18, at 2 PM ET!
Last Chance to Register: 2026 National CRC Awareness Month Webcast
Celebrate National Achievements and Hear the Latest State of the Field Updates this Wednesday, March 18
Don’t miss your chance to register for the annual National CRC Awareness Month webcast! This virtual event held this Wednesday, March 18, from 2–3 PM ET, will spotlight national achievements across the CRC community and provide the latest state‑of‑the‑field updates that guide our collective efforts to reduce CRC mortality and disparities. Plan to join us with this year’s theme: “Uniting for Equity Across the CRC Continuum,” with speakers Rebecca Seigel, Bill Thach, staff from ScreeND, the 2026 ACS NCCRT National Achievement Grand Prize Winner, and our ACS NCCRT chairs.
The webcast is free and is open to ACS NCCRT members, ACS and ACS CAN staff, and other partners working to prevent and save lives from CRC. Pre-registration is required and spots are filling up fast!
Registration Open: “How to Talk to Kids About CRC” from the Pickles Group
The Pickles Group Focuses on Resources for Children Living With or Affected by Cancer
Pickles Group is collaborating with ACS NCCRT members Fight Colorectal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, and Man Up To Cancer to bring you a free live webinar and family panel focused on the unique experiences of navigating colorectal cancer while parenting.
Telling kids about a parent or guardian’s CRC diagnosis can be hard, but research shows that open, age-appropriate conversations help reduce children’s worry and support their social-emotional wellbeing.
The webinar, held on Wednesday, April 1st at 7pm ET, will share practical guidance on how to talk with kids about CRC, followed by a panel of parents and youth sharing their lived experience moderated by GI Oncologist, Dr. Shruti Patel.
European Society for Medical Oncology Publishes Express Update for CRC Clinical Practice Guidelines
The Guidelines Address CRC Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-Up
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) recently published an express update to their Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) that cover localized colon cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The ESMO CPG updates reflects outcomes of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group phase III CHALLENGE trial with stage II and III colon cancer patients and recommend that patients should be informed of the suggested survival benefits for a structured exercise program. Specifically, the guidelines recommend that clinicians should use shared decision making and consider socioeconomic and personal factors while making a strong recommendation for an exercise program for patients in treatment for CRC to increase survivorship. Learn more about the study and new guidelines.
ICYMI: Latest CRC Awareness and Educational Opportunities
Recap the Most Recent CRC News Below
Our ACS NCCRT members and partners have been working hard this month to raise awareness for CRC, as well as provide educational opportunities and materials. See below for a roundup of all the latest:
- The American Cancer Society (ACS) published the latest edition of Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures in early March. The journal article and the overview materials both highlight the concerning increase in both colon and rectal cancer in those under 50 in the US.
- Registration is now open for the webinar titled, “Turning Data Into Action for Early-Age Onset CRC Insights and Best Practices for Community Health Centers”, which will be help on Tuesday, March 31 from 1-2pm ET. Learn more and register here.
- The ACS ECHO team has launched a new series of sessions for cancer professionals. The final session of the series titled “Building Pathways to Fertility Preservation in Cancer ECHO” will be held on March 24, from 1-2pm ET, which you can register for here. The second round of the “Understanding Multi-Cancer Detection Testing ECHO” will begin April 28 through August 25 at 11am. Learn more and register for these free sessions.
- The 2026 Prevent Cancer Dialogue: Community Impact Through Collaboration will be held in person May 7-8 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Learn more and register here.
- Last CRC News, we highlighted a variety of member and partner events in March, as well as funding opportunities and new resources. To see the full roundup, visit this link.
Many thanks for the great work you do!
The ACS NCCRT Team
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