Almost half of the colorectal cases in the United States are diagnosed at late-stages of the diseases when treatment is more difficult, according to a new report released today by the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC). Significant findings of the study “Surveillance of Screening-Detected Cancers (Colon and Rectum, Breast, and Cervix) — United States, 2004-2006” include:

* Incidence rates of late-stage colorectal cancer increased with age and were highest among black men and women.
* Late-stage colon and rectum incidence rates ranged from 51.0 to 86.5, and were highest in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

“This report causes concern because so many preventable cancers are not being diagnosed when treatment is most effective,” said Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. “More work is needed to widely implement evidence-based cancer screening tests which may lead to early detection and, ultimately, an increase in the number of lives saved.”

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Colorectal cancer is the most preventable and beatable cancer if detected early. That’s why you need to Find it First.

Olympus and the Colorectal Cancer Coalition are joining forces to encourage at-risk Americans to commit to being screened for colon or rectal cancer. If you are age 50 or older, have family history of colorectal cancer or have other risk factors, you should commit to be screened at FinditFirst.com.

For each screening commitment, Olympus will donate $1 (up to $25,000 total) to the Coalition. In addition to making a commitment to be screened, visitors will also be invited to join Olympus and the Coalition in urging their Members of Congress to support legislation that ensures all Americans access to life-saving colorectal cancer screening.

Make the commitment at FinditFirst.com, get screened and tell your friends and loved ones!

Today, the New York Times published a special profiling 522 cancer survivors in order to highlight some of the challenges they faced after completing treatment.  The interviews share insights about life after cancer from survivors across the country.  C3 Advocate Paulette Stallone is one of the survivors featured in the article.

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2010 Congressional Butt-In Generates Calls to Congress Supporting Colorectal Cancer Screening From All 50 States the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico

On March 30-31, 2010 advocates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico called their Representatives in Congress, urging them to support the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) during the annual Congressional Butt-In.

The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) will establish a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide colorectal cancer screenings and treatment for low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals who are not eligible for Medicare.

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Hundreds of advocates from across the country are calling Congress today and asking Members to cosponsor life-saving legislation that will create a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer. Learn more about what H.R. 1189 will do.

Already today, we have reached over 160 Members of Congress!  Did you call your Representative? Take a minute, and let us know how the call went in the form below.

And be sure to tell your friends, family, and colleagues to call 1-866-615-3375 and ask their Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Together we will make the vision of a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer a reality.
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