NCI's Screen to Save Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative coming to Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 21, 2017) — The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center's Mindy Rogers, a community health educator, will collaborate with state and regional organizations and community stakeholders throughout Appalachian Kentucky to conduct culturally-tailored education and outreach using the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) national Screen to Save (S2S) Colorectal Cancer Outreach and Screening Initiative.

The initiative is  a result of the research recommendations of the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel and will be supported by GMaP Region 1 North led by Markey Cancer Prevention and Control Co-Leader Dr. Mark Dignan.

This special NCI initiative seeks to increase colorectal cancer screening rates among men and women age 50 and older from racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse communities. In Kentucky, CRCHD will use two of its National Outreach Network (NON) programs to increase colorectal cancer awareness and promote screening. These NON programs include the Community Health Educator (CHE) serving Appalachian Kentucky, and the regional Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP). GMaP’s involvement will assist the cataloging of resources and regional partners that can be used to support CHEs across the country.

“Colorectal cancer is a screenable cancer; the earlier we can find the disease, the better the chances of survival,” Rogers said. “The intent of this initiative is to provide additional community and regional resources to aid our efforts to improve cancer screening rates and save lives. The S2S effort complements many of our existing colorectal cancer outreach programs conducted by colleagues at the UK Markey Cancer Center and its affiliates, the Kentucky Cancer Program, and our local health departments.”

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women combined in the nation and the state. The mortality rate in Kentucky is among the highest in the country, claiming the lives of more than 800 people each year.