Cancer Society: Don’t let COVID-19 stall colorectal cancer screening
The coronavirus pandemic has kept many of us at home, sheltering against the virus that causes COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean we should avoid medical checkups, and cancer screening is even more important, according to the American Cancer Society.
The Cancer Society expects an estimated 149,500 cases of colorectal cancer to be diagnosed in the United States this year, with about 52,980 people dying from the disease. Black Americans have the highest colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates of all racial groups in the country.
The pandemic is likely to increase disparities in health care for minority groups unless people actively address barriers to cancer screenings, according to the Cancer Society.
Reasons for racial/ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer are complex, but largely reflect differences in risk factors and access to professional health care, both of which are related to socioeconomic status.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, during which the American Cancer Society encourages people to talk to their doctors about colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer — cancer of the bowel — is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States when men and women are statistically combined.
Regular screenings — either stool testing (fecal immunochemical tests, highly sensitive guaiacbased tests or a multitarget stool DNA test) or structural exams (colonoscopy or computed tomography colonography) — will reduce chances of premature death to colorectal cancer.
“Research shows that screening can prevent colorectal cancer through the detection and removal of precancerous growths (polyps), as well as detect cancer at an early stage when treatment is likely to work best,” said Laura Makaroff, DO, senior vice president for Prevention & Early Detection at the American Cancer Society. “We know the pandemic has disrupted cancer screening, and we are urging people to talk to their doctor about getting back on track with colorectal cancer screening now.”
The Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk for colorectal cancer begin screening at age 45 and continue through age 75. Screening frequency from ages 76 to 85 should be based on an individual’s health status, life expectancy, preferences and prior screening history.
More than half — 55%
— of colorectal cancers in the United States are attributable to modifiable risk factors including excess body weight, inactivity, long-term smoking, eating a lot of red or processed meat, not getting enough calcium in your diet, drinking too much alcohol and not eating enough fruits, vegetables and whole-grain fiber. Hereditary/genetic and medical factors that increase your risk include a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, certain inherited syndromes, a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease and type 2 diabetes.
“Cancer screening disparities are evident and are likely to increase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said William Cance, MD, chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society. “Health-care providers must continue to make cancer screening a priority and efforts to overcome barriers for populations with low screening prevalence must be at the forefront of our focus as we continue to provide the public with safe opportunities to prevent cancer or detect it early.”
A recently published ACS study also finds that long-term aspirin use before a diagnosis of colorectal cancer may be associated with lower colorectal cancer-specific mortality.