Governor John Bel Edwards has proclaimed March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month as part of a nationwide movement to increase awareness and education about colorectal cancer. The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) has established a goal of seeing 80% of Americans age 50 years and older screened by the year 2018.

At LR's annual Leadership Conference, the 2017 Board of Directors in honor of esteemed colleague Dianne McAdams, a colorectal cancer survivor, approved a resolution to pledge and commit to embracing the shared goal of reaching 80% screened for colorectal cancer by 2018.

The Problem: Colorectal Cancer in Louisiana

  • Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States.
  • Between 2008 and 2012, Louisiana had the third highest rate of colorectal cancer in the nation.
  • Louisiana was third in the nation for mortality rates due to this disease. 
  • Colorectal cancer affects men and women equally and in preventable, treatable, and beatable in most cases. 
  • One in three adults over the age of 50 is not getting tested as recommended by the guidelines.
  • The vast majority of colon cancer deaths can be prevented through proper screening and early detection.
  • Louisiana’s current screening rate for colorectal cancer is 64.3%. Louisiana has spent approximately $368,994,122 on treatments related to this disease.

If the goal of 80% screened is reached, Louisiana could avert 3,471 deaths due to colorectal cancer, prevent 277,000 new cases, and save millions of dollars associated with treatment costs. 

Information and statistics provided by National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable and Louisiana Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. For more information on the initative: http://nccrt.org/tools/80-percent-by-2018/