Welcome to the latest 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.

ICYMI: 2026 National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Webcast Registration is Open 

Celebrate National Achievements and Hear the Latest State of the Field Updates on March 18 

In early February, we announced that registration opened for our annual National Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month webcast which will take place on Wednesday, March 18, from 2:00–3:00 PM ET. This virtual event 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 Nicole Stout, Rebecca Seigel, Bill Thach, our 2026 Awardees, 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 increase CRC screening rates. Pre-registration is required. 

ACS Releases 2026 Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 

The Report Covers Major Modifiable Cancer Risk Factors and Screening Tests 

The American Cancer Society (ACS) published the latest edition of Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures last week, the companion to the scientific journal paper in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. Both cover major modifiable risk factors across the United States including vaccination and screening rates. Of note, 65% of adults aged 45 and older were up to date with CRC screening in 2023, but there were still lower rates for those who were uninsured, from ages 45-49, recent immigrants, and living in a low-income household, highlighting that there is more work for us to do in the upcoming years. Read the 2026 Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures or the journal article for more in depth tables, data, and discussion of other cancer risk factors and screenings.  

Honor Black History Month by Reviewing Our Black and African American CRC Screening Messaging Guidebook 

The Guidebook Was Published in 2022 

Black and African American people experience disproportionately high incidence and mortality rates from CRC, with CRC death rates almost 40% higher than those of white people. While screening is only one element of the work that needs to be done to address these CRC disparities, it is important to promote screening in the best way possible.  

The ACS NCCRT 2022 Messaging Guidebook for Black & African American People: Messages to Motivate for Colorectal Cancer Screening is intended to provide clinicians and public health professionals with information and tools to help you work towards closing disparity gaps by using effective, tailored cancer screening messaging to help motivate people to get screened.  

Take time this Black History Month to review the guidebook and work to thoughtfully incorporate its best practices and messaging into your work to address this important CRC disparity in the community you serve.  

Last Call: Submit March Events, Resources and Opportunities by Friday, February 20 

Members and Partners Can Have Work Highlighted in CRC News and on ACS NCCRT Social Media 

This March, the ACS NCCRT is again inviting members and partners to share their events, resources, and opportunities for others to get involved in their work while celebrating National CRC Awareness Month. We are looking to highlight: 

• New CRC-related resources (published since January 2025) 
• State, regional, or national CRC-related events in March 2026 
• State, regional, or national CRC-related opportunities in March 2026 
• With rare exception, the ACS NCCRT aims to highlight free or not-for-profit fee events 

Form submissions are due by this Friday, February 20, 2026 at 11:59pm ET. We will aim to feature as many submissions as we can in CRC News and on our social media channels (LinkedIn and X) during March 2026 but retain editorial privileges with the content submitted. 

Not a member and interested in knowing more about the benefits and what membership entails? Visit this link to learn more.

Many thanks for the great work you do!

The ACS NCCRT Team

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