On July 25, 2022, the nation's leading colorectal cancer (CRC) patient advocacy organization, Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) convened a group of CRC survivors, patient advocacy groups, and business leaders with the White House Cancer Moonshot coordinators and representatives from federal agencies in response to President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden’s call to action to improve and increase access to CRC screening. During the meeting, the group discussed ways they can work together to amplify and engage in efforts during March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, as well as collaborate on public-private partnerships to ensure all Americans have access to CRC treatment and screening. 

“We want to save lives,” said Anjee Davis, Fight CRC President. “We want to increase colorectal cancer screenings, and we believe that we can provide access for everyone if we think innovatively. The United States can lead the way and implement best practices, not only for those who are eligible for screening, but also for the early-age onset community. This meeting at the White House was the first step.”

As part of the reignited Cancer Moonshot, First Lady Jill Biden announced a call to action on cancer screening to jump-start progress on the nearly 10 million cancer screenings in the United States that were missed as a result of the pandemic. To achieve this goal, Fight CRC convened a work group of patient advocacy and business leaders, and leveraged their shared commitment to increasing CRC screening to help meet the Cancer Moonshot goals. This meeting is the beginning of an ongoing conversation between this group and the White House and federal agencies to share ideas and develop innovative solutions.  

The group presented on three key initiatives: (1) CRC education and awareness as part of the First Lady’s cancer screening messaging efforts, (2) comprehensive CRC screening solutions that support existing screening tools allowing the workgroup to reach underserved communities, and (3) building on the success of the CDC’s Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP). 

“This is a disease that’s preventable and treatable.” said Paula Chambers Raney, stage I CRC survivor and Fight CRC advocate. “It was so exciting to be in the room with policymakers, advocacy organizations, and companies who make the screening tests. These are the people who have the power to make changes to the way people are screened and to bring access to everyone in all communities. There are so many screening options available now compared with seven years ago when I was diagnosed. There is innovation out there. There is so much data that exists now. There is a reason for hope. This makes me even more excited to advocate.” 

Participants from the White House Meeting: 

Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé - Prevent Cancer Foundation, Founder
Andrew Barnell, MBA - Geneoscopy Inc., CEO and Co-Founder
Daniel Bloomgarden - Fight Colorectal Cancer, Board Member
Danielle Carnival, PhD - White House Cancer Moonshot, Coordinator
Austin Chiang, MD, MPH - Medtronic, CMO Gastrointestinal
Kevin Conroy - Exact Sciences, Chairman and CEO
Erin Darbouze, MPH - Fight Colorectal Cancer, Health Policy Manager
Anjee Davis, MPPA - Fight Colorectal Cancer, President
Richard Goldberg, MD - Fight Colorectal Cancer, Board Member
Greg Hamilton, MBA - Epigenomics, CEO
Lisa Lacasse, MBA - American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), President
David Lieberman, MD, AGAF - American Gastroenterological Association, Former President
Molly McDonnell - Fight Colorectal Cancer, Director of Advocacy
Arif Nathoo, MD, MPA - Komodo Health, Co-Founder and CEO
Angela Nicholas, MD - Fight Colorectal Cancer, Board Chair
Mike Nolan, MBA - Freenome, CEO
Paula Chambers Raney - Fight Colorectal Cancer, survivor and advocate
AmirAli Talasaz, PhD - Guardant Health, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Catharine Young, PhD - Assistant Director for Cancer Moonshot Engagement and Policy

In just a few months since convening, this work group has committed to working together to make a meaningful difference in CRC screening.