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! 

ACS Releases 2026 Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 

The Report Covers the State of Colorectal Cancer, Including Data Estimates for 2026 

Colorectal cancer (CRC) rates in the United States are moving in two very different directions, according to a new report released by the American Cancer Society (ACS) on March 2. While the disease continues to decline among older adults, rates are rising in people under 65, signaling a troubling shift in who is being affected.  

“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from CRC is climbing in younger men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, Surveillance Research, and lead author of the report. “We need to not only significantly increase research efforts to understand the cause but also circumvent these deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public, especially knowing the 5-year survival for early disease is more than 90%.” 

According to the report, CRC is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the U.S., and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. For adults under 50, it’s now the number one cause of cancer-related mortality. In 2026, an estimated 158,850 new cases of CRC will be diagnosed, and 55,230 people will die from the disease, including 200 diagnoses each day in people younger than 65. Read the 2026 Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures or the journal article for more in depth tables, data, and discussion about the current trends in CRC incidence and mortality. Visit the ACS NCCRT Resource Center to explore evidence-based tools to help increase CRC screening and reduce CRC incidence and mortality.   

ICYMI: 2026 National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Webcast is Two Weeks Away 

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

The 2026 National CRC Awareness Month webcast is just two weeks away! This virtual event, which takes place on Wednesday, March 18 from 2-3pm 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, 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 so secure your spot today as spots are starting to fill up! 

Registration Open: Turning Data Into Action Early-Age Onset CRC Insights and Best Practices for Community Health Centers 

The American Cancer Society and ACS NCCRT Are Joining Together to Host the Webinar 

The ACS and the ACS National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) are hosting a webinar focused on Community Health Centers (CHCs) on Tuesday, March 31st from 1-2 PM ET. Participants can expect an engaging and insightful discussion covering the current landscape of CRC, why CRC has become the leading cancer killer in adults under age 50, and tangible tools, resources, and best practices to drive better outcomes. Attendees will hear from:  

• Kaitlin Sylvester, MPA, Strategic Director, ACS NCCRT;  
• Lynn Durham, EdD, President & CEO, Georgian Center for Oncology Research and Education, and a 2025 ACS NCCRT National Achievement Award honoree; 
• Rebecca Siegel, MPH, Senior Scientific Director, Surveillance Research, ACS; 
• Moderator: Aubree Thelen, MPH, Program Manager, National Roundtables and Coalitions, ACS 

Zoom registration is free and open to ACS NCCRT members, CDC grantees, ACS and ACS CAN staff, and other partners working to increase colorectal cancer screening rates. Pre-registration is required to join.  

Requests for Comment: New Follow-Up Colonoscopy Measure from NCQA 

The Comment Period is Open Until 5pm ET on March 13 

The National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) is inviting the public to comment on a new set of proposed measures in Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®). There are multiple measures that reviewers can comment on, but of particular interest to our partners and members is the recently proposed “Follow-Up After Positive CRC Non-Invasive Screening Test” or COF-E measure.   

This is an opportunity for those working to increase CRC screening and follow-up after a non-invasive test to weigh in on the relevance, scientific validity and practicality of this new measure. 

Learn more about the proposed changes and how to submit comments. Comments are due by 5pm ET on Friday, March 13.  

ACS Launches New ECHO Sessions For Cancer Professionals 

Register to Join the Multi-Session Learning Communities for Free 

The ACS ECHO team is promoting two upcoming cross-cancer ECHO cohorts which include expert faculty on specific topics and are free to attend: 

Building Pathways to Fertility Preservation in Cancer ECHO

Join the American Cancer Society for the final session of our Building Pathways to Fertility Preservation in Cancer ECHO on March 24th, 2026, 12-1 PM CT. The session will focus on How to Build a Fertility Preservation Program. This program offers no-cost nursing and social work Continuing Education Units (CEU). Register here.  

Understanding Multi-Cancer Detection Testing ECHO

Join the American Cancer Society for an ECHO program on Understanding Multi-Cancer Detection Testing ECHO.  The goal of this program is to equip multidisciplinary cancer care team members and primary care clinicians with a foundational understanding of multi-cancer detection (MCD) tests and to support the evidence-based communication regarding these tests and their results in cancer screening. Sessions will be held once a month for one hour, starting April 28th through August 25th at 11AM ET. Register here. 

March Member Events, New Tools, and Educational and Funding Opportunities Round Up 

Our Members and Partners Planned Many Ways to Highlight CRC Awareness This Month 

This March, the ACS NCCRT again invited members and partners to share their events, resources, and opportunities for others to get involved in their work while honoring National CRC Awareness Month.  

• March 6 is Dress In Blue Day. Wear blue. Take a photo. Post it to social media & tag #DressInBlueDay to raise CRC awareness. Learn more from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance here. 
• Grant Opportunity from the CGA-IGA. The Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer (CGA-IGA) is offering three grant opportunities starting March 9 for researchers at varying stages of their careers. Learn more. 
• 5th Annual Lynch Syndrome Symposium on March 10. Hosted from 9 AM – 6 PM by the King Center for Lynch Syndrome at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, this symposium is open to patients, caregivers & healthcare professionals. The event includes virtual & in-person attendance along with CME/CEU credits, all of which are available at no cost. Learn more and register. 
• ScopeItOut on March 22. Hosted by the the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the largest CRC walk in the country takes place March 22 at the National Mall in Washington, DC. Walk, connect, and raise awareness for CRC prevention and early detection. Learn more and register. 
• Bring “United in Blue” to Your Community This March. Fight Colorectal Cancer is offering at-home Flag Kits to help raise awareness of early-onset CRC during CRC Awareness Month. Perfect for front yards, campuses, and community spaces — each kit includes everything needed to display blue flags in solidarity. Order your kit today. 
• Check Out Butts & Badges from Cheeky Charity! This CRC Awareness Month, clinics and teams are wearing pins to spark conversations about colorectal & anal cancer screening. Join 120+ centers & 13,000+ staff for March 2026! 
• Join the #TurnNDBlue Photo Contest. This CRC Awareness Month, The North Dakota Cancer Coalition is inviting folks in North Dakota to submit fun blue photos that raise awareness about CRC screening & prevention. Submit & learn more. 
• CRC Outreach Materials from ScreenNJ. The ScreenNJ Resource Library offers educational flyers and marketing materials designed for both clinical and community-based organizations. These tools support patient education, outreach, and screening promotion across diverse settings. To increase accessibility and reach, materials are available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, and Spanish. Explore the resource library.  
• Nevada Cancer Coalition is Taking CRC Awareness on the Road with “Colin”. “Colin”, a giant inflatable colon, will appear at CRC Champion locations across Nevada, providing education and awareness, community-based delivery of at-home screening kits, and engaging photo opportunities designed to spark conversation and promote greater CRC screening participation. Learn more. 

Many thanks for the great work you do!

The ACS NCCRT Team

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