Screen for Your Life!

It's Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! Let's start with a few facts about this cancer and the updated screening recommendation. Men and women have a risk of developing colorectal cancer—even if there’s no family history. Sometimes colorectal polyps (abnormal growths) and colorectal cancer don't cause symptoms, especially at first. Now, routine screening starts earlier, at age 45. Colorectal cancer can be prevented with screening. Visit CDC's website to find new Screen for Life videos and other materials on how to prevent colorectal cancer. Share what you learn and encourage others to get screened.

Dr. Lisa Richardson, Director of CDC’s cancer division will be part of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month celebration. If you haven’t already registered, we hope you will join us for the 8th Annual Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Webcast on Thursday, March 23 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET. Register

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Understanding Cancer Among Different Populations

A diverse group of people around a table

When it comes to cancer, achieving health equity requires that everyone has an equal opportunity to prevent cancer, find it early, and get proper treatment and follow-up care. Some groups of people face social, economic, geographic, and environmental disadvantages that can affect their chances of preventing, getting, and dying from cancer. A new CDC resource provides an in-depth look at different groups of people and the kinds of cancer that affect them. Find out what tools and community actions can help prevent and lower the risk of cancer among these groups.

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CDC Launches Cancer Screening Change Packages

Cancer screening is one of the most powerful tools to help lower peoples’ risk of cancer. Health care providers and their public health partners play a key role in helping people get recommended cancer screenings and timely follow-up care when needed. CDC’s cancer division, in partnership with the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, has launched cancer screening change packages for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. They list tools and resources that support community efforts to increase cancer screening rates and save more lives.

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Paid Sick Leave Improves Public Health

A man talking with a health care provider.

Did you know that paid sick leave can improve the use of preventive care such as routine cancer screenings? To raise awareness of this issue, CDC has partnered with ChangeLab Solutions to create a new fact sheet and infographic. These resources highlight the health benefits and elements of a paid sick leave policy.

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Resources to Help Empower Patients and Improve Health Outcomes

Empowered Health graphic with a picture of Dr. Lisa Richardson.

A collection of new resources and tools aimed at helping people make better decisions about preventing, treating, and living after a cancer diagnosis were released as part of CDC and the CDC Foundation’s Empowered Health program. Director of CDC's cancer division, Dr. Lisa Richardson, shares how Empowered Health is educating and inspiring individuals to take an active role in their health, strengthen their relationship with their health care team, and make important medical decisions together that honor their values and preferences.

CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® Campaign Returns

Tobacco use can cause many kinds of cancer almost anywhere in the body, including colorectal cancer. CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign is back with advertisements that encourage people who smoke to quit. The 2023 campaign brings awareness to diseases and conditions related to smoking and shares the impact smoking has on family members. Get more information about Tips and free resources to quit smoking.

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Did You Know?

Some lifestyle factors that may contribute to a higher risk of colorectal cancer include a lack of regular physical activity, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use.
CDC's Colorectal Cancer Control Program focuses on increasing screening among people ages 45 to 75 in clinics that serve people with lower incomes.