We hope you have had a good week.  We have some news items to share with all of you.

New Resource!  NCCRT Risk Assessment and Screening Toolkit to Detect Familial, Hereditary and Early Onset Colorectal Cancer

We are pleased to share that a new NCCRT resource for primary care, Risk Assessment and Screening Toolkit to Detect Familial, Hereditary and Early Onset Colorectal Cancer, is now available, both as a full toolkit and a quick start companion guide.  The purpose of this toolkit is to improve the ability of primary care clinicians to systematically collect, document, and act on a family history of CRC and adenomas polyps, while also educating clinicians on the need for more timely diagnostic testing for young adults who present with alarm signs or symptoms of CRC and ensuring that those patients receive a proper diagnostic work up.  

Many thanks to the outstanding work and guidance provided by the NCCRT Family History and Early Onset Task Group, chaired by Dennis Ahnen, Paul Schroy, and Thomas Weber, as well as to the team at The Jackson Laboratory, Emily Edelman, Therese Ingram, Kate Reed, and Linda Steinmark in producing this first-of-its kind resource.  We’d also like to thank additional advisors Cindy Borassi, Anjee Davis, Robin Dubin, Gregory Feero, Stephanie Guiffre, Heather Hampel, Djenaba Joseph, Xavier Llor, Susan Miesfeldt, Martha Raymond, Michelle Tropper, and Jennifer Weiss; our reviewers & contributors Siobhan Dolan, Caitlin Gutheil, Paul Han, Kenneth Lin, Leigh LoPresti, Natalie Mikat-Stevens, Trudie Milner, Randa Sifri, and Alissa Terry; our funders: ACS and CDC; and the support team from ACS and NCCRT Caleb Levell, Durado Brooks, Robert Smith, and Becky Siegel.

Replay of NCCRT Webinar on New Risk Assessment Toolkit

In case you missed it, a replay of the June 19^th, webinar on the , Risk Assessment and Screening Toolkit to Detect Familial, Hereditary and Early Onset Colorectal Cancer, can be found here: http://nccrt.org/resource/risk-assessment-and-screening-toolkit-webinar-june-19-2018/   Feel free to share with colleagues who could not join the webinar.

Registration is Now Open for July 18^th 2:00pm ET Webinar on CRC Screening Best Practices Handbook for Hospitals and Health Systems:

Registration is now open for our next webinar on Wednesday, July 18^th at 2:00pm ET, during which we’ll introduce our soon-to-be released Colorectal Cancer Screening Best Practices Handbook for Hospitals and Health Systems.  The purpose of the webinar will be to familiarize participants with the soon-to-be released handbook, review critical steps for hospitals and health systems to take in advancing CRC Screening efforts, and learn from two health system leaders about their experiences implementing CRC screening interventions, as featured in the handbook.  The webinar will be patterned after a workshop on the topic featured at the 2017 NCCRT annual meeting.  Speakers include:  Mary Doroshenk, NCCRT; Andrew Albert, MD, MPH, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center; and Amanda Bohleber, MD, Deaconess Health System. The webinar will be moderated by the co-chairs of the NCCRT Professional Education and Practice Implementation Task Group, Michael Potter, MD, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Lane, MD, MPH, American College of Preventive Medicine.

The webinar is open to NCCRT members, 80% partners, CDC grantees, ACS Health Systems and Communications staff, and new partners interested in getting engaged in colorectal cancer screening efforts.   You must be pre-registered to join.  Registration is available here.

Please Share:  Never Too Young Survey for Young Onset Colorectal Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has asked for help promoting this survey to patients, survivors, and caregivers in our colorectal cancer community. This is the third annual international survey of young-onset colorectal cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.  The purpose of the survey is to learn about and track the medical and psycho-social experiences of this often overlooked group, which comprises 11 percent of colorectal cancer patients today. This year’s survey is expanded to better learn about the experience of caregivers, with a selection of questions specifically for them. The survey, available at N2Y Survey, will remain open until July 1st and should take less than 10 minutes to complete.  

Webinar on Engaging with Health Plans

The American Cancer Society, with funding support from CDC, recently hosted a webinar for Comprehensive Cancer Control Programs and Coalitions, titled: “How Coalitions Can Engage and Effectively Work with Health Plans to Increase CRC Screening Rates.” The webinar addressed: 1) The lessons learned by others when engaging health plans; 2) Recommendations for effectively working with health plans; and 3) The success stories of coalition speakers who worked with health plans.  If you missed the webinar, you may replay it by clicking on this link.  Many thanks to Sarah Shafir and Lorrie Graaf for bringing this webinar to our attention.

Celebrity Watch Parties

On a lighter note, you may enjoy this piece about Martin Short and Steve Martin talking with Jimmy Kimmel about colonoscopy parties:  https://www.today.com/health/martin-short-tom-hanks-steve-martin-have-colonoscopy-parties-t131499 Good news: Canadian Martin Short is a believer in CRC screening!  Curious news: This funny guys get colonoscopies every other year.  Kinda good news: the clarification was made in the today.com story that the usual interval for colonoscopy is every 10 years.  Many thanks to Miriam Falco and Durado Brooks for bringing this article to our attention.

We hope you have been having a good week.  We have some news items to share with all of you.

Register for June 19^th 3:00pm ET NCCRT Webinar on New Family History/Early Onset CRC Toolkit:

Registration is open for our next webinar, which will be held on Tuesday, June 19^th at 3:00pm ET, during which we’ll introduce our soon-to-be released resource for primary care, Risk Assessment and Screening Toolkit to Detect Familial, Hereditary and Early Onset Colorectal Cancer.  The new toolkit aims to improve the ability of primary care clinicians to systematically collect, document, and act on a family history of CRC and adenomas polyps, while also educating clinicians on the need for more timely diagnostic testing for young adults who present with alarm signs or symptoms of CRC and ensuring that those patients receive a proper diagnostic work up.  Speakers include:

• Emily Edelman, MS, CGC, Associate Director, Clinical & Continuing Education, The Jackson Laboratory;
• Dennis Ahnen, MD, Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, NCCRT Steering Committee, NCCRT Co-Chair Family History and Early Age Onset CRC Task Group;
• Paul Schroy, MD, MPH,  Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, NCCRT Co-Chair Family History and Early Age Onset CRC Task Group;
• Thomas Weber, MD, Director of Surgical Oncology, Northwest Region at Northwell Health, NCCRT Chair Emeritus, NCCRT Co-Chair Family History and Early Age Onset CRC Task Group. 

The webinar is open to NCCRT members, 80% partners, CDC grantees, ACS Health Systems and Communications staff, and new partners interested in getting engaged in colorectal cancer screening efforts.  You must be pre-registered to join.  Registration is available here.

2016 State by State Colorectal Cancer Screening Data Available

State by state colorectal cancer screening rates for 2016 are now available from CDC.  The percentage of adults aged 50 to 75 who reported being up to date with CRC screening in the United States increased from 65.5% in 2012 to 67.3% in 2016. Congratulations to friends in Maine (75.9%), Connecticut (75.8%), and Massachusetts (75.3) for having the highest rates and to friends in Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Dakota for seeing the biggest rate increases.  (North Dakota’s rate increased 5.9%, Kentucky’s rate increased 6.5%, and Arkansas’s rate increased 8.8% — wow!) Congratulations to study authors Djenaba Joseph and Lisa Richardson, as well as the other authors.

Replay of ACS Colorectal Cancer Screening Guideline For Average Risk Adults 2018

In case you missed it, a replay of the May 30th, webinar, ACS Colorectal Cancer Screening Guideline For Average Risk Adults 2018, can be found here: http://nccrt.org/resource/screening-guideline-update-from-american-cancer-society-may-30-2018/  You may also be interested in these resources highlighted during the webinar:

CA Journal article on ACS CRC Screening Guideline

Video message from Dr. Richard Wender

Issue Brief and FAQ for NCCRT Members and 80% Pledger Signers

Additionally, Katie Couric released a new PSA on social media highlighting the ACS recommended screening age.  Many thanks to Katie and the team at SU2C for making this happen!

Welcome to New NCCRT Members!

We are pleased to announce the addition of a new NCCRT member organization, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s Geographic Health Equity Alliance, which will be represented by Keith Vensey and Leah Farchmin; and a new individual member, Stephanie Harju, RN, BSN, CCM, Associate Director of Clinical Quality, Central Region, WI & MI, United Health Group, Quality and Clinical Division, Employer & Individual. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to these new NCCRT Members!

2018 UDS CRC Screening Rate Measure Now Includes FIT DNA and CTC

Some of you may be interested to know that the 2018 UDS Manual now includes FIT-DNA and CT colonography in the CRC screening measure definition in the manual.  As many of you know, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are required by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to report on measures included in the Uniform Data System UDS), including CRC screening.  HRSA revised the 2018 UDS manual to better align with national measures and reporting standards.  Many thanks to Laura Makaroff for bringing this update to our attention.

Please Share:  Never Too Young Survey for Young Onset Colorectal Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has asked for help promoting this survey to patients, survivors, and caregivers in our colorectal cancer community. This is the third annual international survey of young-onset colorectal cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.  The purpose of the survey is to learn about and track the medical and psycho-social experiences of this often overlooked group, which comprises 11 percent of colorectal cancer patients today. This year’s survey is expanded to better learn about the experience of caregivers, with a selection of questions specifically for them. The survey, available at N2Y Survey, will remain open until July 1st and should take less than 10 minutes to complete.  

NCI’s Accelerating Rural Cancer Control (ARCC) Research Meeting Recording

Last month, NCI hosted a recent meeting on Accelerating Rural Cancer Control, with three objectives: 1) Identify gaps in research and practice, 2) Build partnerships across the country and various health-related entities to address challenges and disseminate solutions, and 3) Highlight and identify methods to address competing and common agendas of clinics/providers, researchers and community/patients.  Links to recordings of the sessions are now available:  Day 1 and Day 2.   Many thanks to Margaret Farrell of NCI for sharing these recordings with us.

Relevant Journal Articles

• The American College of Surgeons recently released a new study published in JAMA, entitled the Association Between Intensity of Posttreatment Surveillance Testing and Detection of Recurrence in Patients With Colorectal Cancer.  Notably, the article concludes that among patients treated for stage I, II, or III CRC, there was no significant association between surveillance intensity and detection of recurrence.  Many thanks to Nina Miller for bringing this article to our attention.
• A new study, Circulating Vitamin D and Colorectal Cancer Risk: An International Pooling Project of 17 Cohorts, authored by scientists from the American Cancer Society, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and more than 20 other medical centers and organizations recently appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.  The article finds that higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D, was related to a statistically significant, substantially lower colorectal cancer risk in women and non–statistically significant lower risk in men.  Congratulations to the study authors.
• A new study on Visualizing Colonoscopy Capacity for Public Health Use appeared in CDC’s Preventing Chronic Disease that helps visualize used/unused colonoscopy capacity in North Dakota.  Developing similar GIS maps in other states could be helpful in understanding where the unused capacity is geographically and where program need is.  Many thanks to Shannon Bacon for bringing this study to our attention.

Annual Data Release of Cancer Statistics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute are pleased to announce the annual release of the U.S. Cancer Statistics, the official federal cancer statistics. This resource combines data from CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries and NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, providing the latest cancer information on the entire U.S. population.  You can access the latest release of data through the updated Data Visualizations tool and public use database: Data Visualizations tool.  Many thanks to Lisa Richardson for bringing this release to our attention.

2018 Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium is this Month

Registration is still available for the 2018 Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium, which will be held in New Orleans, June 27th through June 29th.   The meeting will tackle best practices, lessons learned, and how to move forward in our work surrounding colorectal cancer.  View the preliminary agenda here. Meeting registration can be accessed here: https://give.lsuhealthfoundation.org/crc2018   

May 30, 2018 – This morning the American Cancer Society released a new colorectal cancer screening guideline, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.  We wanted to ensure you learned about the new guideline directly from us, as you start hearing about the new guideline in the media and on social media.

The new guideline recommends that adults at average risk for colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. The guideline was changed, based in part, on new data showing rates of colorectal cancer are increasing in younger populations.  As a result, the American Cancer Society updated the guideline to save more lives by finding colorectal cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful and by detecting and removing polyps, which contributes to the prevention of colorectal cancer. Details about the new guideline and additional resources can be found on cancer.org/coloncancer.

Please be sure to tune in to a special American Cancer Society webinar today at 4:30pm ET to learn more.  We will answer as many questions as we can, review the evidence-base behind the guideline, and discuss how it will apply in a clinical setting.  The webinar is specifically for NCCRT members, 80% pledge signers, CDC grantees, and ACS health systems staff.  A replay will be available for those who cannot join the webinar.  You must be pre-registered to join the webinar. Please register here. 

You may also be interested in these additional resources:

• Video message from Dr. Richard Wender
• Issue Brief and FAQ for NCCRT Members and 80% Pledger Signers
• ACS Press Release

Follow both the American Cancer Society on Twitter and Facebook and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable on Twitter and Facebook for today’s latest updates.

The following email news update was shared with NCCRT members and partners on Tuesday, April 16th, 2018. Sign up to subscribe to our regular email updates.

Registration is Open for Wednesday, May 2^nd 3:00pm ET Webinar on New NCCRT CRC Coalition Guide

Registration is now open for an upcoming NCCRT webinar on May 2^nd at 3:00pm ET, that will coincide with the new release of the NCCRT State CRC Coalition Guide and Workbook.  This webinar is a repeat of the workshop hosted at last November’s NCCRT Annual Meeting, Guide and Workbook for State Level Colorectal Cancer Coalitions/Roundtables, which was one of our most highly rated workshops.  During this webinar, we will examine the recommendations from this new NCCRT tool and corresponding workbook and present different visions, structures, strategies, and lessons learned for launching effective state-based CRC coalitions.  We’ll hear from two early leaders in state coalition efforts to promote CRC control efforts, who will tell their stories and offer different approaches to success.  Speakers include: Shauntay L. Davis, MPH, Program Director, Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, California Department of Public Health, Katie Bathje, MA, LPCC, Program Director, Kentucky Cancer Consortium and Caleb Levell, Program Manager, NCCRT. 

The webinar is open to NCCRT members, 80% by 2018 partners, CDC grantees, ACS Health Systems and Communications staff, and new partners interested in getting engaged in colorectal cancer screening efforts.   You must be pre-registered to join.  Registration is available here.

Welcome to New NCCRT Members!

We are pleased to announce the addition of five new NCCRT member organizations: The GCA Centre for Adult Autism, which will be represented by Scott Kramer; Catch it in Time, represented by Keith Singer; Fayette County Health Department in Illinois, represented by Elizabeth Washburn; Colon Cancer Alliance for Research & Education for Lynch Syndrome (CCARE Lynch Syndrome), represented by Sharon Perlman; and the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, represented by Robin Vanderpool. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to these new NCCRT Members!

Request for Proposals for Development of 80% by 2018 CRC Screening Campaign: “Glossy” Report

The NCCRT is pleased to announce a competitive bid process to commission development of a qualitative “glossy” report that readily articulates the history and successes of the 80% by 2018 effort. You can access the RFP here.  Previously, the NCCRT has produced academic manuscripts that have evaluated the 80% by 2018 effort; however, as the 80% by 2018 campaign transitions to 2019 and beyond, we would like to package these data and stories for a wider public health and lay audience in an accessible manner. As such, the NCCRT is commissioning the development of an accessible “glossy” report to better share the history, key milestones, strategic action steps, and overall progress of the 80% by 2018 colorectal cancer screening campaign. 

If interested, please submit a letter of intent by May 25, 2018 and an electronic copy of your proposal by June 1, 2018 5:00pm ET to NCCRT Program Manager Caleb Levell (caleb.levell@cancer.org) via email.  Questions can be emailed to caleb.levell@cancer.org and are due by May 25th.  All questions and responses will be posted to this web page.  Finally, we are assembling an advisory group of NCCRT Members to oversee development of the report.  If you would like to serve on the advisory group, please let Caleb know.

Relevant Journal Article

A new journal article appeared in Clinical Colorectal Cancer, entitled, Addressing Racial Disparity in Colorectal Cancer Screening With CT Colonography: Experience in an African-American Cohort.  The study found that the yield of cancer (0.7%; 18/2490) was slightly higher as compared with a previously published predominantly white CT colonography cohort (0.4%), and that the overall colonographic prevalence of polyps and masses ‡ 10 mm (8.5%) was within the range observed among African Americans undergoing screening optical colonoscopy. The study concludes that CTC is an effective screening modality for African-American adults and could potentially improve rates of colorectal screening in this underserved population.  Many thanks to Viviane Guay for flagging this article for us, and congratulations to study authors Drs. David Kim and Perry Pickhardt, as well as the other authors.

Cologuard Added to 2018 NHIS Survey

We have been able to confirm that a new question about Cologuard has been added to the 2018 National Health Interview Survey, which is currently in the field.  This change reflects the 2016 USPSTF recommendations for CRC screening.  Data should be available sometime in mid-2019 for the next round of NHIS CRC screening data.  Many thanks to Barry Berger for bringing this change to our attention and to Marion Nadel for her work ensuring that the NHIS data collected will reflect the 2016 USPSTF recommendations for CRC screening.

Article on Denver Broncos CRC Awareness Campaign

You may enjoy this article from Colorado Health and Wellness on Luke Kellerman’s legacy and the work he inspired, which expanded the Denver Broncos awareness campaign to include colorectal cancer screening: http://www.healthwellnesscolorado.com/luke-kellerman-the-man-who-inspired-the-denver-broncos-campaign-and-raised-awareness-of-colorectal-cancer/ #FightLikeABronco  Many thanks to Jane Harris for bringing this article to our attention.

Early Bird Registration Ends Today: 2018 Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium

Early bird registration ends today for the 2018 Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium, which will be held in New Orleans, June 27^th through June 29^th.   The meeting will tackle best practices, lessons learned, and how to move forward in our work surrounding colorectal cancer.  View the preliminary agenda here. Meeting registration can be accessed here: https://give.lsuhealthfoundation.org/crc2018  

Additionally, poster abstract submissions for the meeting are being accepted from all Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium members and partners.  The deadline for abstract submission is May 11, 2018.  View this link to look at Poster Abstract Guidelines  Please submit all submissions to Jacobi Owens at jowen10@lsuhsc.edu.  If you have any questions about poster submissions or need further assistance, please reach out to Jacobi.  

Many thanks for the good work you do. 

80% by 2018 National Colorectal Cancer Screening Campaign: “Glossy” Report of Activities, Successes, and Lessons Learned

The NCCRT is pleased to announce a competitive bid process to commission development of a qualitative “glossy” report that readily articulates the history and successes of the 80% by 2018 effort. Previously, the NCCRT has produced academic manuscripts that have evaluated the 80% by 2018 effort; however, as the 80% by 2018 campaign transitions to 2019 and beyond, these data and stories have yet to be packaged and delivered to a wider public health and lay audience in an accessible manner. As such, the NCCRT is commissioning the development of an accessible “glossy” report to better share the history, key milestones, strategic action steps, and overall progress of the 80% by 2018 colorectal cancer screening campaign. 

If interested, please submit a letter of intent by May 25, 2018 and email an electronic copy of your proposal by June 1, 2018 5:00pm ET to NCCRT Program Manager, Caleb Levell (caleb.levell@cancer.org) via email.  Questions can be emailed to caleb.levell@cancer.org and are due by May 25th.  All questions and responses will be posted to this web page. 

The following email news update was shared with NCCRT members and partners on Tuesday, April 16th, 2018. Sign up to subscribe to our regular email updates.

Registration is Open for Wednesday, May 2^nd 3:00pm ET Webinar on New NCCRT CRC Coalition Guide

Registration is now open for an upcoming NCCRT webinar on May 2^nd at 3:00pm, that will coincide with the release of the NCCRT State CRC Coalition Guide and Workbook.  This webinar is a repeat of the workshop hosted at last November’s NCCRT Annual Meeting, Guide and Workbook for State Level Colorectal Cancer Coalitions/Roundtables, which was one of our most highly rated workshops.  During this webinar, we will examine the recommendations from a new NCCRT tool and corresponding workbook that present different visions, structures, strategies, and lessons learned for launching effective state-based CRC coalitions.  We’ll hear from two early leaders in state coalition efforts to promote CRC control efforts, who will tell their stories and offer different approaches to success.  Speakers include: Shauntay L. Davis, MPH, Program Director, Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, California Department of Public Health, Katie Bathje, MA, LPCC, Program Director, Kentucky Cancer Consortium and Caleb Levell, Program Manager, NCCRT. 

The webinar is open to NCCRT members, 80% by 2018 partners, CDC grantees, ACS Health Systems and Communications staff, and new partners interested in getting engaged in colorectal cancer screening efforts.   You must be pre-registered to join.  Registration is available here.

New 80% by 2018 Blog Recapping March

A new 80% by 2018 Blog, March 2018: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Goes Coast to Coast, by Dr. Richard Wender and Anjee Davis is now live.  We’ve been in awe of all the CRC screening events and activities that took place coast to coast last month, and we hope you will enjoy some reflections about the month.  The collective activity was truly astounding, and together we are making a difference. 

If you or your colleagues would like to share the blog on social media, you are welcome to use our shortened URL (http://ow.ly/WL2dI) and/or to retweet/repost the messages we are sharing through @NCCRTnews and facebook.com/coloncancerroundtable.

NCCRT Members Drs. Dennis Ahnen and Electra Paskett Join Other Leaders in Receiving Prestigious Laurels Awards

The NCCRT is pleased to join the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in honoring leaders in cancer prevention with the annual “Laurels Awards” for national leadership, community service and health equity, presented at last week’s Dialogue for Action meeting.  This year, Dr. Dennis Ahnen received the National Leadership Award, Dr. Reshma Khan received the Dedication to Community Service Award, and Dr. Electra Paskett received the Increasing Health Equity Award.  In addition to the these awards, the Prevent Cancer Foundation presented Dr. Paul Engstrom with a special Lifetime Achievement Award.  Please join me in congratulating these heroes in cancer prevention!

Updated CDC United States Cancer Statistics: Data Visualization Tool

CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control has introduced new updates to the United States Cancer Statistics: Data Visualizations tool, a user-friendly product that allows cancer surveillance data to be directly and more easily accessible by the public and cancer control planners. New features include: county statistics, survival estimates, prevalence estimates, optimized display for mobile devices, and the ability to share specific selections on social media. Users can customize displays of overall and cancer-specific statistics, download data tables, and share each page via social media. This tool, developed in conjunction with ATSDR’s Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP), creates data visualizations to describe U.S. cancer burden, incidence and mortality over time, and state-specific data in comparison to national rates. 2015 cancer data are scheduled to be added this summer.  Congratulations to CDC for creating this fabulous new resource, and thank you to Lisa Richardson for bringing this to our attention.

Veterans Affairs (VA) National Radio Tour on Colorectal Cancer Reaches 25 Million Listeners

Congratulations to NCCRT Members Dr. Jason Dominitz and Doug Roberston who assisted with a March “Research Radio Media Tour,” highlighting the VA’s colorectal cancer research.  Drs. Dominitz and Robertson reached 25 million listeners through 20 confirmed radio station airings throughout the U.S., emphasizing the importance of screening and describing the VA’s research efforts for colorectal cancer. Several radio hosts shared their personal experiences and asked about the symptoms of colorectal cancer and how it can be detected early.  Many thanks to Dr. Dominitz and Robertson for spreading the word!

New ASTHO Column on Colorectal Cancer Screening

You may enjoy this column from long-time NCCRT friend and new Chief Medical Officer of ASTHO, Dr. Marcus Plescia, in which he joins NCCRT Chair, Dr. Richard Wender in outlining six ways states can promote colorectal cancer screening and prevention.  You can view the column here.  Many thanks to Dr. Plescia for his work on this effort.

Rescheduled:  Join the Colorectal Cancer Alliance For the Launch of “March Forth” in Philadelphia

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has rescheduled the launch of a new foundation, March Forth, which had to be postponed due to a late season snow-storm.  The new date for this launch event is May 15th.  The new foundation has been created to focus on a city-centric approach to drive up screening rates and save lives from colorectal cancer.  Today, Philadelphia has one of the lowest screening rates in the United States at 44 percent, so there is both tremendous opportunity and work ahead.  The launch will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm at the Philadelphia College of Physicians, 19 22nd St.  RSVP to aknapp@ccalliance.org.  For more information, visit www.ccalliance.org/marchforth

Welcome Sabine Louise Petra Bell!

Last, but not least, the NCCRT family is pleased to share the news that Emily Butler Bell and her husband Griff welcomed Sabine Louise Petra Bell into the world on April 13^th!   Sabine came in the world at just 4 lb. 11 oz.  Fortunately, Emily tells us she is tiny, but healthy and strong.  The family is doing well.  Emily will be on maternity leave, returning in mid-August, so let Dionne, Caleb, or me know if you need anything during this time.  In the meantime, please join us in sending our sincere congratulations to the family on the arrival of their beautiful baby!

Many thanks for the good work you do. 

The NCCRT family is pleased to share the news that Emily Bell and her husband, Griff, welcomed Sabine Louise Petra Bell into the world on April 13^th! Sabine came in the world at just 4 lb. 11 oz. Fortunately, Emily tells us she is tiny, but healthy and strong. The family is doing well. Emily will be on maternity leave, returning in mid-August, so let Dionne, Caleb, or Mary know if you need anything in the meantime. Please join us in sending our sincere congratulations to the family on the arrival of their beautiful baby!