Dear NCCRT Members,

We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. We have a few updates to share with you this week.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Reach 45.6% In FQHCs in 2019

The UDS (Uniform Data System) colorectal cancer screening rate reached 45.6% in 2019, which amounts to a 16 percentage point increase since the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) began tracking colorectal cancer screening as a UDS measure in 2012. Furthermore, 28 health centers reached the 80% goal in 2019. The NCCRT would like to congratulate our partners at HRSA and the National Association for Community Health Centers (NACHC) for championing efforts to increase CRC screening among their grantee and member health centers partners. And most of all, we’d like to share a huge round of applause for the staff and providers at health centers for their persistence and innovation in working day in and day out to provide eligible patients with the opportunity to screen for this largely preventable disease. Visit the HRSA website to learn more about the UDS measure and to find the UDS screening rate for health centers in your state. Visit NCCRT’s Data & Progress webpage to learn about our progress with other national measures.

Reminder: Seeking COVID-19 & CRC Screening Emerging Best Practices

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting colorectal cancer screening rates in unprecedented ways (see NCCRT’s recent “Playbook” on reinvigorating CRC screening amidst COVID-19). Our members and partners are eager to learn from each other about the innovative approaches we’re implementing to both continue CRC screening and communicate that screening is still important and can be done safely in the communities we serve. Does your organization have an emerging best practice to share? If so, please share! Examples could include a clinical workflow that ensures patients with an abnormal stool test get prioritized for colonoscopy, a letter from a health plan to members, an emerging plan to implement Flu-FIT in a drive-through setting this fall, and more. Please share your examples through this form and we will share in 80% Blog posts in the coming weeks.

Reminder: Save the Date for the 80% in Every Community Conference & NCCRT Annual Meeting!

Please be sure to save the data for NCCRT’s annual meeting of the NCCRT membership, which is now expanding to include the 80% in Every Community Conference, to be held virtually on Monday, November 16th and Tuesday, November 17th from 1-4:30pm ET each day. Task group meetings and our NCCRT Orientation session will be held in the weeks prior to the meeting. Timing for these sessions and registration will be announced in the coming weeks. Learn more about the 2020 80% in Every Community Conference and NCCRT Annual Meeting, as well as sponsorship opportunities.

New Multimedia Resources from the Colon Cancer Prevention Project

The Kentucky-based NCCRT member recently released two new resources:

• The new “Cancer Fight” podcast shares stories about colorectal cancer through interviews with survivors and those who are involved professionally or as advocates, with some guests wearing multiple hats. New podcasts are released on Tuesday mornings. Find the episodes on Spotify Anchor or Apple Podcasts.

• A new documentary on early age onset colorectal cancer in Kentucky, “Preventing a Killer: A Documentary”, was recently broadcast on Kentucky Educational Television, the state PBS affiliate.

Relevant Journal Articles and Publications

• A white paper published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, AGA White Paper: Roadmap for the Future of Colorectal Cancer Screening in the United States, posits “a ‘one-size-fits-al’ approach to CRC screening has not and is unlikely to result in increased screening uptake or desired outcomes due to barriers stemming from behavioral, cultural, and socioeconomic causes, especially when combined with inefficiencies in deployment of screening technologies.” The authors propose solutions to overcoming these barriers, including the use of multiple screening modalities, continued development of noninvasive screening tests, and improved personal risk assessment.

• A recent commentary published in J Natl Cancer Inst, The COVID-19 Pandemic: Identifying Adaptive Solutions for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Underserved Communities, describes challenges and opportunities to deliver COVID-adapted CRC screening to medically underserved populations receiving care in community health centers.

• An update to a May 4th study published by Epic Health Research Network, Delayed Cancer Screenings—A Second Look, finds colorectal cancer screenings have rebounded to some degree, but June 16 weekly volumes remained 36% lower than their pre-COVID-19 levels for CRC screenings.

• An update to a previous report from IQVIA Institute, Reopening the U.S. Healthcare System: Tracking the Pandemic, Reopening Readiness, And Health Services Utilization, also finds the number of colonoscopy procedures is rising, but is still below pre-pandemic levels (page 18).

• A systemic review published in the Journal of Community Health, Systematic Review of Interventions to Increase Stool Blood Colorectal Cancer Screening in African Americans, found effective strategies to increase stool blood testing included mailed stool blood tests augmented by patient navigation, tailored educational materials, and follow-up calls or mailings to increase trust in the patient-provider relationship.

• A recent paper in J Natl Cancer Inst, Comparing the cost-effectiveness of innovative colorectal cancer screening tests, evaluated the cost-effectiveness of screening with capsule endoscopy every 5 or 10 years, computed tomographic colonography (CTC) every 5 years, the multi-target stool DNA (mtSDNA) test every 1 or 3 years, and the methylated SEPT9 DNA plasma assay (mSEPT9) every 1 or 2 years.

 

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team Did you miss a past edition of CRC News? Visit the News & Research archive.

Do you have a colleague that would like to be adding to receive our newsletter? Please encourage them to sign up to receive CRC News.

Dear NCCRT Members and 80% Partners,

We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. We have a few updates to share with you this week.

Seeking COVID-19 & CRC Screening Emerging Best Practices

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting colorectal cancer screening rates in unprecedented ways (see NCCRT’s recent “Playbook” on reinvigorating CRC screening amidst COVID-19). Our members and partners are eager to learn from each other about the innovative approaches we’re implementing to both continue CRC screening and communicate that screening is still important and can be done safely in the communities we serve. Does your organization have an emerging best practice to share? If so, please share! Examples could include a clinical workflow that ensures patients with an abnormal stool test get prioritized for colonoscopy, a letter from a health plan to members, an emerging plan to implement Flu-FIT in a drive-through setting this fall, and more. Please share your examples through this form and we will share in 80% Blog posts in the coming weeks.

Share Your Work

Replay & Slides: Webinar on CRC Screening During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In case you missed it, a replay of the July 23rd webinar, Reigniting Colorectal Cancer Screening as Communities Face and Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic, is now available. The webinar featured discussions with lead authors of NCCRT’s new report on colorectal cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, which was released on June 30, provides an action-oriented playbook for how NCCRT members, 80% pledged partners, and colorectal cancer screening advocates across the nation can work together to reignite our screening efforts appropriately, safely, and equally for all communities.

Learn More

Relevant Journal Articles and Publications

• A recent paper published in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer-Related Patient Encounters, reports a significant decrease in all cancer-related patient encounters as a result of the pandemic, including a decline in colorectal cancer screenings by −84.5%.
• A study published in Am J Public Health, Outreach and Inreach Strategies for Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Latinos at a Federally Qualified Health Center: A Randomized Controlled Trial, 2015–2018, found increased colorectal cancer screening completion among primarily Spanish-speaking patients that received inreach with one-on-one education and/or outreach with mailed FIT.
• A study published in Cancer, Comparative Cost-Effectiveness of Mailed Fecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT)-Based Interventions for Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Medicaid Population, found providing CRC screening eligible patients with a reminder and a FIT was cost saving per additional Medicaid enrollee screened compared with a reminder-only alternative from the Medicaid/state perspective and likely cost-effective from the health clinic/facility perspective.
• An editorial published in Cancer, Colorectal Cancer Screening: The Costs and Benefits of Getting to 80% in Every Community, describes the challenges we face in determining who pays for cost-effective and evidence-based strategies to increase CRC screening, including mailed FIT and screening navigation.

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team

Did you miss a past edition of CRC News? Visit the News & Research archive.

Do you have a colleague that would like to be adding to receive our newsletter? Please encourage them to sign up to receive CRC News.

Dear NCCRT Members and 80% Partners,

We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. We have a few updates to share with you this week.

Webinar: Reigniting Colorectal Cancer Screening as Communities Face and Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2020

Time: 2:00 to 3:00 PM ET

We hope you will be able to join us on July 23 in a discussion about the NCCRT’s new report on colorectal cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, which released on June 30, provides an action-oriented playbook for how NCCRT members, 80% pledged partners, and colorectal cancer screening advocates across the nation can work together to reignite our screening efforts appropriately, safely, and equally for all communities. During this webinar, we will hear from the report’s lead authors, an expert panel that will share the report’s four aligning statements as well as a summary of findings. Time will be allocated for an ample Q&A after presentations.

Pre-registration is required.
Learn More & Register

CDC Announces 35 New CRCCP Grantees

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) recently announced the latest cohort of grantees, which includes 35 award recipients—19 states, 8 universities, 2 tribal organizations, and 6 other organizations. The purpose of the program is to increase colorectal cancer screening rates among people between 50 and 75 years of age by implementing evidence-based interventions and providing screening and follow-up services for a limited number of program-eligible people. Learn about some of the innovative ways in which current and former CRCCP awardees have increased colorectal cancer screening rates in their communities.

Also from CDC, is a recent blog post from Lisa C. Richardson, MD, MPH, Director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and NCCRT Steering Committee member. Dr. Richardson shares her recent experience of getting a routine checkup and cancer screening during the pandemic.

New Publication Finds Growing Disparities in CRC Mortality in Rural Areas

A recent publication in JCO Oncology Practice, Rural Cancer Disparities in the United States: A Multilevel Framework to Improve Access to Care and Patient Outcomes, finds age-standardized colorectal cancer death rates from 2013 to 2017 were among the highest quintile in Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, all states with large rural populations. In earlier years, colorectal cancer death rates were high in all states, and disparities were much less pronounced.

 

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team Did you miss a past edition of CRC News? Visit the News & Research archive.

Do you have a colleague that would like to be adding to receive our newsletter? Please encourage them to sign up to receive CRC News.

Dear NCCRT Members and 80% Partners,

We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. We have several updates to share with you this week.

NCCRT Releases New Playbook on CRC Screening During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This just released resource from the NCCRT provides an action-oriented playbook to be adopted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to align NCCRT members, 80% pledged partners, and colorectal cancer screening advocates across the nation to work together to reignite our screening efforts appropriately, safely, and equally for all communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged efforts to address inadequate screening and inequities in colorectal cancer outcomes, hindering the progress toward our 80% in Every Community goals. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American Cancer Society, made recommendations to delay all non-urgent procedures. Colonoscopies to detect colorectal cancer have been delayed or cancelled and patient fears about contracting COVID-19 have led to further reductions in screening. This drop has raised concern that COVID-19 related screening delays will lead to missed and advanced stage colorectal cancer diagnoses and to excess deaths from colorectal cancer. Moreover, this burden will likely not be evenly distributed as screening disparities may be exacerbated in communities and populations that are disadvantaged by both old and new challenges in the COVID-19 era.

The colorectal cancer fighting community stands prepared and well-positioned to respond to and overcome the difficult task ahead, and this document offers the latest data, research, and clinical guidelines available. A special note of recognition to our playbook authors: Durado Brooks, Rachel Issaka, Steven Itzkowitz, Michael Sapienza, Ma Somsouk, and Richard Wender.

Download Report

New Summary Report on Links of Care Pilot to Increase CRC Screening for Underserved Patients

The newly released report, Report on a Pilot Project to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates and Ensure Access to Specialty Care for Underserved Patients, provides an overview of the Links of Care pilot project (2015-2017), which implemented evidence-based strategies to increase screening rates and timely access to specialists after abnormal screenings in three Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Participating FQHCs successfully increased CRC screening rates by 8-28 percentage points, secured low- or no-cost colonoscopies from specialty care providers, and implemented patient navigation to ensure timely follow-up to diagnostic services. The report outlines key facilitators to success. Congratulations to the evaluators and authors that contributed to this publication, Lesley Watson, Kara Riehman, Mary Doroshenk, Rentonia Williams, Vonda Evans, Lynn Basilio, Maryanne Goss, and Roshan Paudel, as well as the numerous individuals that contributed to the pilot projects’ success.

Download Report

New Mailed FIT Publication

In June 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convened a meeting of subject matter experts and stakeholders to answer key questions regarding mailed (fecal immunochemical test) FIT implementation in the United States. The recently released publication, Mailed fecal immunochemical test outreach for colorectal cancer screening: Summary of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–sponsored summit, summarizes points of agreement and includes practical recommendations for implementation. Report authors include numerous NCCRT members and two NCCRT Steering Committee members, Gloria Coronado and Lisa Richardson.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Issues New CRC Screening Guidelines

On June 8th, the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) issued Version 2.2020 of the Colorectal Cancer Screening guidelines. Access for registered users is available on the NCCN website.

Reminder: Request for Proposals to Update NCCRT’s Steps Guide to CRC Screening for Community Health Centers

The NCCRT is seeking proposals to update, revise, and modernize the signature NCCRT resource, Steps for Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates: A Manual for Community Health Centers, originally published in 2014. The Steps Guide provides succinct steps-by-step instructions for community health center teams for implementing screening programs and policies along with guidance on evaluation and outcome tracking. We are now seeking a contractor to update the guide to reflect current evidence-based best practices, include recent case examples, expand relevancy to all primary care settings, and to include a “how to” brief on timely follow up to abnormal stool-based test results. The deadline for proposals is July 18th, 2020.

Please email Caleb Levell, NCCRT co-director, (caleb.levell@cancer.org) with any questions related to the RFP. We also welcome your suggestions for potential vendors. Email notification of intent to apply and questions regarding the proposal are due July 8th, 2020. All questions and answers will be posted to the RFP webpage.

Learn More

 

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team

Did you miss a past edition of CRC News? Visit the News & Research archive.

Do you have a colleague that would like to be adding to receive our newsletter? Please encourage them to sign up to receive CRC News.

Dear NCCRT Members and 80% Partners,

We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. We have a few updates to share with you this week.

Request for Proposals to Update NCCRT’s Steps Guide to CRC Screening for Community Health Centers

Today, the NCCRT issued a request for proposals to update, revise, and modernize the signature NCCRT resource, Steps for Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates: A Manual for Community Health Centers, originally published in 2014. The Steps Guide provides succinct steps-by-step instructions for community health center teams for implementing screening programs and policies along with guidance on evaluation and outcome tracking. We are now seeking a contractor to update the guide to reflect current evidence-based best practices, include recent case examples, expand relevancy to all primary care settings, and to include a “how to” brief on timely follow up to abnormal stool-based test results. The deadline for proposals is July 18th, 2020.

Please email Caleb Levell, NCCRT co-director, (caleb.levell@cancer.org) with any questions related to the RFP. We also welcome your suggestions for potential vendors. Email notification of intent to apply and questions regarding the proposal are due July 8th, 2020. All questions and answers will be posted to the RFP webpage.
Learn More

New Publication Summarizes NCCRT’s Past, Present, and Future Goals

The journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America recently published The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable: Past Performance, Current and Future Goals, which summarizes NCCRT’s evolution and successes since it’s inception in 1997. The paper includes a focus on the history of and milestones achieved with NCCRT’s campaigns to reach and exceed colorectal cancer screening rates of 80% and higher nationwide. Congratulations to the authors, Richard Wender, Durado Brooks, Katherine Sharpe, and Mary Doroshenk.

COVID-19 & Colorectal Cancer Screening Letter Signing Opportunity

Fight Colorectal Cancer, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), and the Prevent Cancer Foundation, shared the following letter signing opportunity:

Join Fight Colorectal Cancer, ACS CAN, and the Prevent Cancer Foundation in urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to waive cost-sharing for patients who receive a positive result following a non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test.

Due to the risks associated with COVID-19, most cancer screening, including colonoscopies, have been indefinitely postponed. At a time when patients cannot or may not be willing to go into a doctor’s office for screening, we believe that encouraging the use of at-home, non-invasive screening tests is a good solution to help keep those at average risk for colorectal cancer up to date on screening during this challenging time. Patients should be able to utilize non-invasive testing options and complete their screening with a colonoscopy, if necessary, without the fear of out-of-pocket costs, particularly during these difficult times.

Click HERE to read the letter. Email Fight Colorectal Cancer’s Director of Advocacy, Molly McDonnell, at molly@fightcrc.org if you wish to add your organization’s name to this letter. Please respond by COB, Wednesday, June 24th.

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team

Did you miss a past edition of CRC News? Visit the News & Research archive.

Do you have a colleague that would like to be adding to receive our newsletter? Please encourage them to sign up to receive CRC News.

Dear NCCRT Members and 80% Partners,

We would like to take a moment to address the current tragic events of racial injustice that are causing pain and heartache across the country. We, too, are saddened and distressed by the senseless deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd and the many other black individuals whose name we may never know.

Health equity has always been one of our core values, but this week, we recognize more than ever that the inequities and injustices we must conquer to achieve health equity extend far beyond access to colorectal cancer screening and follow up care. They are rooted in structural racism, poverty, and other social determinants of health. Colorectal cancer does not affect everyone equally; incidence and mortality are highest in blacks, and we see disparate impacts in many groups. We as a nation and as the public health community have much work to do to address the systemic inequities that lead to health disparities. We are committed to doing our part, together with you, because everyone deserves to live a healthy life with equal opportunity.

We’re also heartened to see so many of our members and partners act, look inward, and reach outward to explore new ways to work toward a brighter future. We will share just a few items here, but will look to continue disseminating other articles of commentary and action with our members in future communications. The American Cancer Society is one of many organizations that released a statement that echoes our commitment to health equity. Our member gastroenterological societies have also released a joint statement voicing a pledge to lead change. As we close, we remind ourselves that addressing health disparities is at the heart of the 80% in Every Community campaign, and we are lucky to have you all as incredible organizations, leaders, and voices that are so determined in making our response united and impactful.

The NCCRT Team

Replay of NCCRT Webinar on Findings from Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2020

In case you missed it, a replay of the May 18th webinar, Colorectal Cancer Burden Shifting to Younger Individuals: A close look at what the most recent data tells us about colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, and screening rates, is now available. The webinar offered a close look at the findings from Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2020, and featured lead author Rebecca Siegel, MPH, Scientific Director, Surveillance Research, and Robert Smith, PhD, Senior Vice President of Cancer Screening, both at ACS. Slides are also available for download.
Watch the Replay

New Colorectal Cancer Screening CME Opportunity

The University of North Texas Health Science Center, the American Cancer Society in Texas, the Texas colorectal cancer task force, and Incedo, a technology services firm, recently collaborated to develop a no cost colorectal cancer CME webinar opportunity authored by Dr. Richard Wender, NCCRT chair. The activity discusses the latest guidelines and methods for colorectal cancer screening and why increasing rates are important to health professionals. This activity was designed for physicians, medical assistants, nurses and public health workers and is approved for 1.0 credit.

2020 Prevent Cancer Dialogue Webcast Series

The Prevent Cancer Foundation announced the 2020 Prevent Cancer Dialogue will be offered in a virtual format with a three-part webinar series on cancer prevention, screening, and action. The third webinar in the series, Challenges and Opportunities for Cancer Prevention and Screening in Indian Country on Wednesday, July 1, 12:30-4:30pm ET, will include presentations on colorectal cancer screening.

Open Position with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is seeking applicants for a Vice President of Prevention who will be passionate about colorectal cancer screening and prevention efforts and work tirelessly to increase screening rates to save lives.

Relevant Journal Articles and Publications

• Fight Colorectal Cancer led a collaboration with the health care technology company, Komodo Health, to develop a research brief highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on colorectal cancer screening and care. Among other findings, the report finds the total number of colonoscopies and biopsies performed declined nearly 90% by mid-April compared to the same period last year. The findings were featured in the New York Times and Reuters.
• The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors recently released the report: Impact of the Changing Public Health Environment on State Cancer Programs: COVID-19 and the Implications for Cancer Screening.
• This week the Colorectal Cancer Alliance released the 2019 Never Too Young Survey Report. The report highlights critical findings from almost 900 patients and over 200 caregivers on their self-reported experience from pre-diagnosis through survivorship.

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team Did you miss a past edition of CRC News? Visit the News & Research archive.

Do you have a colleague that would like to be adding to receive our newsletter? Please encourage them to sign up to receive CRC News.

Dear NCCRT Members and 80% Partners,

We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. We have a few news updates to share with you this week.

Webinar Today to Share Findings from Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2020

Webinar: Colorectal Cancer Burden Shifting to Younger Individuals: A close look at what the most recent data tells us about colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, and screening rates

Date: Monday, May 18, 2020

Time: 1:00 to 2:00 PM ET

It’s not too late to register to join us for our webinar today to take a close look at the findings from Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2020, a recent American Cancer Society (ACS) publication released on March 5th. According to the report, the burden of colorectal cancer is swiftly shifting to younger individuals as incidence increases in young adults and declines in older age groups. Learn about these findings and more in this webinar featuring report lead author Rebecca Siegel, MPH, Scientific Director, Surveillance Research, and Robert Smith, PhD, Senior Vice President of Cancer Screening, both at ACS. Pre-registration is required.

PLEASE NOTE: The date of this webinar has been moved from May 11 to May 18, 1-2 pm ET, to accommodate a new platform. Participants will need to re-register.
Register

NCCRT & Colorectal Cancer Alliance Convene Expert Panel to Explore Colorectal Cancer Screening in the COVID-19 Era

COVID-19 has produced far-reaching and significant health impacts, including a drastic reduction in all cancer screenings. In response, NCCRT and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance convened a panel of prevention and screening experts to offer a united response and propose national guidance on improving colorectal cancer screening rates during the COVID-19 era.

The expert panel discussion, which occurred on May 5, produced four critical points from which further communications and recommendations will emerge:

1. Despite the challenges we face during the pandemic, we must provide the public with safe opportunities to prevent and detect disease whenever possible.
2. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.
3. During a time when availability of elective screening colonoscopy may be limited by the COVID pandemic, CRC screening can be safely offered through at-home stool-based tests. A positive stool-based test identifies an individual with a higher risk of CRC, for whom colonoscopy should be prioritized.
4. Resumption of screening activities and public messaging will be highly dependent upon regulatory requirements in local geographic areas, public health priorities and community perceptions of safety.

NCCRT, in collaboration with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and other stakeholders, will continue working on communications and recommendations for the public, media and healthcare professionals over the coming months. We look forward to sharing more with you soon.
View the Press Release

Relevant Journal Articles and Publications

• Colorectal Cancer Screening and Prevention in the COVID-19 Era, recently published by JAMA Network, makes the case for leveraging mailed fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) outreach programs and outlines five ways that primary care physicians and gastroenterologists can maintain momentum in decreasing colorectal cancer mortality.
• Colorectal cancer screenings have dropped by 86% relative to averages prior to January 20, 2020, according to an analysis by Epic Health Research Network: Preventive Cancer Screenings during COVID-19 Pandemic.
• A recent Commonwealth Fund study, What Impact Has COVID-19 Had on Outpatient Visits?, finds adult primary care and gastroenterology visits have declined by 49% and 61% since mid-March.
• A report by the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science finds more than 80,000 diagnoses of five common cancers may be missed or delayed by early June because of disruptions to health care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The data suggest that there could be 18,800 missed or delayed diagnoses of colorectal cancer during the 3-month period from early March through early June.
• Two recent publications provide guidance for gastroenterologists on resuming endoscopy services: Guidance on Safely Reopening Your Endoscopy Center (the American College of Gastroenterology) and Joint AGA/DHPA Guidance: Recommendations for Resumption of Elective Endoscopy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team

Did you miss a past edition of CRC News? Visit the News & Research archive.

Do you have a colleague that would like to be adding to receive our newsletter? Please encourage them to sign up to receive CRC News.

Dear NCCRT Members and 80% Partners,

We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. We have a few news updates to share with you this week.

New Date and Registration: Webinar on Recent Report that Finds CRC Burden Shifting to Younger Individuals

Webinar: Colorectal Cancer Burden Shifting to Younger Individuals: A close look at what the most recent data tells us about colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, and screening rates

Date: Monday, May 18, 2020

Time: 1:00 to 2:00 PM ET We hope you will be able to join us on May 18th to take a close look at the findings from Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2020, a recent American Cancer Society publication released on March 5th. According to the report, the burden of colorectal cancer is swiftly shifting to younger individuals as incidence increases in young adults and declines in older age groups. Learn about these findings and more in this webinar featuring report lead author Rebecca Siegel, MPH, Scientific Director, Surveillance Research, at the American Cancer Society.

Pre-registration is required.

Please Note: We apologize for the inconvenience, but you will need to register for the webinar again even if you registered for the previously scheduled date since we are using a new webinar platform. Please follow the link below to complete your registration.
Register

NCCRT Leadership News

We wanted to share the news with you that NCCRT chair, Dr. Richard Wender’s, position as the American Cancer Society’s Chief Cancer Control Officer was eliminated as part of organizational restructuring and his last day was April 24th. He shared that he is humbled and proud to have had the opportunity to serve as the ACS Chief Cancer Control Officer and that his work with NCCRT and our 80% campaigns has been a true highlight of his work with ACS. We look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Wender in his on-going role as NCCRT chair.

Colorectal Cancer Screening & COVID-19

The NCCRT leadership and steering committee are exploring ways to coordinate our response to COVID-19 and the evolving impacts to colorectal cancer screening. Goals include better understanding the implications to our current and future work, reuniting within the 80% in Every Community campaign, and providing guidance to our partners on how to reinvigorate our screening efforts once it is safe to do so. We look forward to sharing more with you soon.

Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium Conference Update

The Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium Conference will be postponed to Spring/Summer 2021 in Kentucky. However, the planning committee is organizing a 2-hour virtual conference on June 9th at 12pm CST/1pm EST. This mini-conference will explore important issues around how to plan and rethink colorectal cancer moving forward, what are the impacts of COVID-19 on health disparities and provide you with an overview of what you can look forward to during next year’s meeting.

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team

Did you miss a past edition of CRC News? Visit the News & Research archive.

Do you have a colleague that would like to be adding to receive our newsletter? Please encourage them to sign up to receive CRC News.

Hello NCCRT Members and 80% Pledged Partners,

We are writing today to share a timely announcement and a new educational opportunity from the American Cancer Society.

American Cancer Society: COVID-19 and Cancer ECHO Series

The American Cancer Society is launching two COVID-19 and Cancer ECHO series to share up-to-date information about about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts cancer patients and high-risk individuals. One series offers content and discussion for interdisciplinary cancer care teams, while the other offers content and discussion for non-paid caregivers. Experts from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) will share strategies and answer questions in a secure, online environment offered at no cost to participants.

Pre-registration is required and participants are not required to attend all three sessions. See below for additional information on topics and how to register.

COVID-19 and Cancer ECHO for Cancer Care Teams

The COVID-19 and Cancer ECHO for Cancer Care Teams will share up-to-date information with interdisciplinary cancer care teams about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts cancer patients and other high-risk individuals.

Pre-registration is required. Register today to join any of the sessions below and to submit your questions for the experts. Download this one-pager for additional information on the expert faculty. Tuesday, April 28 from 12:00—1:00 pm ET Topics will include:

• What health care providers and cancer patients need to know about the coronavirus
• What system/institutional changes/adaptations have been beneficial
• Should people still get screened for cancer during this pandemic?

Thursday, April 30 from 12:00—1:00 pm ET Topics will include:

• How cancer patients can mitigate risk
• Potential modifications in treatment plans
• What is the reasonable timeframe to delay follow-up testing or treatment and how to guide patients?

Tuesday, May 5 from 12:00—1:00 pm ET Topics will include:

• Steps to take to reengage patients as the pandemic subsides

Register

COVID-19 and Cancer ECHO for Cancer Caregivers

The COVID-19 and Cancer ECHO for Cancer Caregivers will share up-to-date information with non-paid caregivers about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts cancer patients and how to support cancer patients during the pandemic.

Pre-registration is required. Register today to join any of the following sessions and to submit your questions for the experts. Download this one-pager for more information on the expert faculty. Wednesday, April 29 from 12:00—1:00 pm ET Topics will include:

• What cancer patients need to know about the coronavirus
• What caregivers can do to help if they do not live with that person and are social distancing
• What precautions should cancer patients take when continuing to receive treatment?

Wednesday, May 6 from 12:00—1:00 pm ET Topics will include:

• Lowering the risk of illness
• Why cancer patients are more likely to get infections
• Watching for and preventing infections in people with cancer
• Nurturing your emotional health

Wednesday, May 13 from 12:00—1:00 pm ET

• Topics will address FAQs during previous sessions

Register

Dear NCCRT Members and 80% Partners,

We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. We have several news updates to share with you this week.

Revised Date and Registration: Webinar on Recent Report that Finds CRC Burden Shifting to Younger Individuals

Webinar: Colorectal Cancer Burden Shifting to Younger Individuals: A close look at what the most recent data tells us about colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, and screening rates

Date: Monday, May 11, 2020

Time: 3:00 to 4:00 PM ET

Registration is now available for our next webinar, during which we’ll take a close look at the findings from Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2020, a recent American Cancer Society publication released on March 5th. According to the report, the burden of colorectal cancer is swiftly shifting to younger individuals as incidence increases in young adults and declines in older age groups. Learn about these findings and more in this webinar featuring report lead author Rebecca Siegel, MPH, Scientific Director, Surveillance Research, at the American Cancer Society.
Register

New Member Resources Added to the NCCRT Resource Center

We invite you to visit the NCCRT Resource Center to check out the latest two member resource additions: the American College of Radiology’s My CT Colonography Locator Tool, an online tool to find a computed tomography (CT) colonography screening center near you; and the Nuestras Voces Network Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Infographic, a bilingual infographic developed by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health’s Nuestras Voces Network Program.

Do you have a resource that you think would be a good fit for the Resource Center? Learn how to submit a resource.

New Joint Gastroenterological Society Guidance

The American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases issued guidance regarding how to manage the clinical procedural needs of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance describes the types of elective procedures that should be delayed as well as the urgent/emergent procedures that should not be delayed.

Early Age Onset Colorectal Cancer Virtual Summit Registration is Open

The Early Age Onset Colorectal Cancer (EAO-CRC) Summit will be hosted as a virtual event on Thursday, April 23 from 12:00 – 2:30 PM EST. Learn more and register.

Relevant Journal Articles and Publications

• An article published in US News & World Report on April 3rd describes impacts to community health centers as the nation responds to the pandemic: Can Community Health Centers Survive the Coronavirus Fight?
• The American Cancer Society recently published a Colorectal Cancer Research Collection, which includes recent research on colorectal cancer screening and treatment.
• The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network recently published a report highlighting advocacy in accomplishments made in 2019: 2019 Advocacy Accomplishments Champions for Change: Leading the Fight to Conquer Cancer, which includes a section on colorectal cancer related accomplishments.

Many thanks for the great work you do.

The NCCRT Team

 

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