As proposed by President Clinton, new Medicare preventive benefits including colorectal cancer screening were enacted in 1997 and went into effect last year. Today's campaign is aimed at encouraging Medicare beneficiaries and others to take advantage of screening to reduce colorectal cancer in the United States. Now, through Screen for Life, we're able to promote healthy aging and help beneficiaries take an active role in their health. The Screen for Life campaign includes public service announcements and information materials targeting Americans 50 and older. The campaign also will promote the new Medicare coverage of colorectal cancer screening procedures.
Most colorectal cancers begin first as small growths, called polyps, inside the colon or rectum.
In the Journal article released today, researchers at the University of Minnesota reported on an 18-year study which extends their findings that screening for blood in the stool can reduce mortality from colorectal cancer. CDC and other health organizations, including the American Cancer Society and gastroenterologic organizations, support the blood stool test or a combination of several tests for colorectal cancer screening. CDC, the nation's disease prevention agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for promoting health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. CDC's efforts in colorectal cancer prevention education have included funding for innovative strategies at the state and national levels, development of epidemiological research and surveillance systems for monitoring national trends, and coordination of a national roundtable to prevent colorectal cancer.