The American Cancer Society Urges the Administration and Congress to Provide Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage

American Cancer Society
Saturday, 7 October 2000

The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health organization, today called on the Administration and Congress to address the cancer burden by enacting legislation designed to provide coverage of early cancer detection and screening. In his weekly radio address, the President announced his support of legislation, advocated by the American Cancer Society, to expand coverage for colorectal cancer screening for Medicare beneficiaries.

"Cancer screening offers real potential to save countless lives. We also know that cancer screening followed by prompt treatment reduces social and economic costs for all Americans," said Harmon J. Eyre, MD, National Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society. "The real tragedy is that we are not using the screening tools already available to prevent unnecessary suffering and death from colon and rectal cancers."

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. When colorectal cancer is detected and treated early, more than 90 percent of patients survive for five years or more. Once the disease has spread a 92 percent of patients die within five years.

This Congressional session, the Society has made colorectal cancer screening a legislative priority, asking lawmakers to ensure that all Americans have access to effective cancer screening tests—including colonoscopy coverage for average-risk Medicare beneficiaries.

As with most cancers, the risk of colorectal cancer increases with age. "Since a vast majority of new cases are diagnosed in individuals that are considered average-risk, it is critical that Medicare cover the full range of colorectal cancer screening tests for everyone—not just those at high-risk," said Dr. Eyre.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org