WASHINGTON, D.C. -- February 27, 2009 -- Critical legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, which would ensure access to colon cancer screening and treatment for those Americans who need them most. This bill will build on efforts to improve access to health care and elevate the importance of refocusing our health care system on preventing disease altogether, rather than trying to save individuals after they become sick.
The "Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act" (H.R. 1189), sponsored by U.S. Representatives Kay Granger (R-Texas) and Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), would authorize $50 million in funding for grants to public agencies and other entities. These grants would fund programs to provide colon cancer screenings, follow-up services and treatment to men and women ages 50 to 64 and would focus on those most at risk, such as low-income, uninsured men and women. While colon cancer screenings are covered by Medicare, the "Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act" would bridge the dangerous gap for men and women who are within the recommended age for colon cancer screening, but not yet eligible for Medicare.
"Less than 15 percent of those without health coverage in the United States have been properly screened for colorectal cancer. That means too many Americans are going without this lifesaving screening because they cannot afford it," said Daniel E. Smith, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). "We urge Congress to pass this crucial legislation to help us stop one of the few cancers we CAN prevent in many cases."
Passage of H.R. 1189 is a priority for ACS CAN, which is working to improve access to quality cancer prevention, early detection and treatment for all Americans by making health care reform a top domestic priority. As many as half of all cancer deaths could be avoided every year through proper prevention, screening and early detection.
Also known as colorectal cancer, colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. An estimated 148,810 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2008, and an estimated 49,960 colorectal cancer deaths occurred in the same year.
African American and Hispanic men and women are disproportionately affected by this disease having higher colon cancer incidence and mortality rates than whites. Economic disparities play a significant role in these statistics, as being uninsured or underinsured often hinders access to colon cancer screening tests, which would detect the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage. "When diagnosed at an early stage, colon cancer has a five-year survival rate of 90 percent; when diagnosed late, the five-year survival rate drops to only 10 percent," said Robert E. Youle, Chairman of ACS CAN's Board of Directors. "Since colon cancer screening could actually prevent cancer by detection and removal of premalignant polyps, the programs initiated by this legislation could potentially save thousands of lives, avoid suffering due to cancer treatment, reduce the burden of cancer costs and prevent many colon cancer cases and deaths altogether."
H.R. 1189 would also train health care providers about how to talk to their patients about the importance of colorectal cancer screening, and support a public education campaign to encourage everyone 50 and older to get this critical cancer screening. As a result, the program would help boost testing rates and save lives.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.