March is #Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness Month. CRC is the second leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. Overall, the most effective way to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer is to get screened for colorectal cancer routinely, beginning at age 45. Go to the Pennsylvania Cancer Control News for colorectal cancer information and resources.
Black persons have the highest CRC rates of any racial/ethnic group in the United States. CRC is expected to be the third leading cause of cancer death in this group according to the American Cancer Society. These disparities may be partially attributed to differences in exposure to risk factors (i.e., smoking, obesity) and health care access (ACS, 2020). However, Blacks are less likely to receive follow-up after a positive screening test in a timely manner. To learn more about screening barriers and key messages designed for this population and others check out these George Washington University (GW) tools: GW Cancer Control TAP CRC Awareness Month Campaign Resources.