Welcome to this latest edition of CRC News, the American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT) periodic newsletter for ACS NCCRT members and partners working toward our shared goal to reach 80% in Every Community.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Highlight: Clinician Resources 

Use the ACS NCCRT’s Suite of Clinician Resources to Bolster your CRC Screening Efforts 

In celebration of National Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness month, the ACS NCCRT would like to highlight a few of our signature resources that focus on clinical work:  

• Clinician’s Reference: Stool-Based Tests for CRC Screening – This recently updated resource is designed to introduce (or reintroduce) clinicians to the value of stool-based testing for colorectal cancer. It explains the different types of stool-based tests available and provides guidance on implementing high quality stool-based screening programs.
• Steps for Increasing CRC Screening Rates: A Manual for Primary Care Practices – This guide uses a step-by-step format to provide evidence-based, expert-endorsed strategies to improve colorectal cancer screening rates in primary care practices, and includes samples, templates, tools, and case studies.
• Risk Assessment And Screening Toolkit To Detect Familial, Hereditary And Early Onset Colorectal Cancer – This new NCCRT 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. 
• American Cancer Society CRC Resources for Patients and Clinicians – This landing page offers a list of American Cancer Society (ACS) resources that are evidence-based, understandable, and actionable to help healthcare teams educate and empower their patients and caregivers.

Lastly, explore our clinician’s hub or filter our resources to find tools, briefs, and materials to support work with specific populations or in particular settings.  

Register for Tomorrow’s ACS Webinar for Community Health Centers 

The Session Covers Colorectal Cancer Trends and Health Center Insights 

There is still time to register! Tomorrow, March 27th from 1-2 PM ET, the American Cancer Society will hold a webinar focused on health centers covering the current state of colorectal cancer (CRC), the urgent need for screening patients aged 45-55, and a review of tools and resources available. Attendees will hear from: 

• Emily Bell, MPH, Director, American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
• Rebecca Siegel, MPH, Senior Scientific Director, Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society;  
• Anay Puente, RN, Regional Charge Nurse, Family Heath Services, a 2024 ACS NCCRT National Achievement Award health center honoree; and 
• Keith Winfrey, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, New Orleans East Louisiana Community Health Center and ACS NCCRT Steering Committee member. 

Registration is free and is open to ACS NCCRT members, CDC grantees, ACS and ACS CAN staff, and other partners working to increase CRC screening and reduce mortality from CRC. 

Recent CRC-Related Publications  

Multiple Journal Articles Highlight New CRC Screening Research 

• Last month, Jama Oncology published Estimation of Cancer Deaths Averted From Prevention, Screening, and Treatment Efforts, 1975-2020, which estimates that during this time frame, CRC deaths were averted because of screening and removal of precancerous polyps or early detection in 79% of cases and credited treatment advances with 21% of deaths averted.  
• Earlier this month, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians published a Colorectal Cancer Research Collection, a special collection of recent CRC research articles. 
• Last fall, the American Journal of Gastroenterology published Content Analysis of Newspaper Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage: Before and After the “80% by 2018” NCCRT Goal, which found that after 2018, there was an improvement in reporting CRC statistics specific to racial/ethnic groups, discussions of barriers to CRC screening, and use of celebrity messengers.  

Upcoming CRC-Related Opportunities 

Plan Ahead for Educational or Awareness Events and Grant Submissions 

The ACS NCCRT would like to highlight a few upcoming opportunities to get involved in CRC-related activities: 

• The ACS NCCRT is seeking Roundtable members to join the 2025 ACS NCCRT Annual Meeting Planning Committee, the committee that helps develop the agenda and logistics for our annual meeting, in concert with the Roundtable staff and the ACS NCCRT Steering Committee. Share your interest through this form by April 1, 2025, to be considered.  
• The Southeastern Colorectal Cancer Consortium is now accepting abstracts for their June 11-13 meeting in Savannah, GA. To be considered, visit this link and submit by April 25 at 12pm ET. 
• Exact Sciences is pleased to announce that their Focus Program’s Spring 2025 RFP is open. The FOCUS Program is an 18-month grant program aimed at supporting organizations interested in increasing CRC screening rates and education in their respective communities. To learn more and apply by May 15 at 11:59pm CT, visit this link.  
• ICYMI: The Prevent Cancer Foundation is promoting registration for their signature Dialogue series this year with their first session kicking off on Wednesday, April 2, covering “Updates on young-onset cancers: What to know and public health implications”. This Dialogue includes a specific focus on colorectal and breast cancers, which you can register for here.  
• The Colon Cancer Prevention Project, an ACS NCCRT member, is promoting their online CRC awareness campaign called “Toilet Talk”. The campaign asks those participating to record videos, share facts, and use the hashtag #ToiletTalk. To learn more, visit toilettalkcrc.com.  

Many thanks for the great work you do and best of luck as you finish off March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness month this year!

The ACS NCCRT Team

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