The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States — and in 2023, there were more than 153,000 cases of CRC in this country.
Alarmingly, CRC is a growing concern among younger populations. As Lindsay Hauser, MS, MTTS, Director, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE), UVA Cancer Center cites — CRC is now the number one cause of cancer death in men younger than 50, and the number two cause of cancer death among women younger than 50.
ACS also reports more than half of CRC cases and deaths are attributable to modifiable risk factors such as smoking, unhealthful diet, high alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and excess body weight. And a large proportion of CRC incidence and mortality is preventable through regular screening, surveillance, and high quality treatment.
This Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Connect highlights how UVA Health team members at University Medical Associates (UMA) and the Cancer Center support our strategic plan goal of community engagement and health equity by raising awareness of the disease and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which uses antibodies to detect blood in the stool. Read More >