Colorectal Cancer Awareness
By Patricia Fowler, DNP
In the United States, colorectal cancer continues to be a significant health concern as the fourth most common cancer occurring in both men and women. Every year, approximately 150,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than a third of those will die from it (Colorectal Cancer Alliance, 2025). Recommendations for screening used to be aimed toward individuals older than 50, but the age threshold has changed due to an alarming increase in diagnoses of colorectal cancer in the younger population.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends regular screening for all patients 45 to 75 years old. After 75 years old, screening recommendations depend on the decision between patient and provider (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024).
Why Screen?
Timely screening is crucial in facilitating earlier detection and treatment and dramatically increasing survival rates. When caught early, colorectal cancer is considered treatable, giving patients a long outlook on life. The survival rate rises to greater than 90% when caught in the initial stages. Regardless, at least a third of adults are not up to date with their colorectal cancer screenings as recommended (Colorectal Cancer Alliance, 2025).
Screening does not always have to mean the dreaded colonoscopy. While a colonoscopy is a beneficial way to look thoroughly at the inside of the colon and take tissue samples as needed, other screening options are available. A newer, commonly used screening test is the Cologuard test, which can be done in the comfort of your own bathroom and shipped to the lab. Other screening tests include flexible sigmoidoscopy, fecal immunochemical testing, fecal occult blood testing and CT colonography. There is no “one size fits all” screening test, and certain factors may make one type of screening more accurate than another.
At Health Partnership Clinic, we are trying to make catching colorectal cancer easier with increased use of the Cologuard test to meet screening goals for patients. Over the past 12 months, colorectal cancer screening rates have increased by 10%. Since starting the initiative to increase colorectal cancer screening in June 2024, screening has increased more than 30%. This success is attributed to increased use of the Cologuard test in patients who meet the requirements, increased awareness among providers and implementation of standing orders, as well as working closely with the Exact Sciences company for continuous follow-up with patients who do not complete the screening initially.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Screening for colorectal cancer.
https://www.cdc.gov/colorectal-cancer/screening/index.html
Colorectal Cancer Alliance. (2025).
https://colorectalcancer.org/basics/facts-and-statistics
