NC SPEED - Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer Launches in High Point, NC
Preventable. Beatable. Treatable. Colorectal cancer is the second leading
cause of cancer-related death in the United States, but it doesn’t have to
be! Guilford County agencies and researchers from the UNC Lineberger have
launched a project to do something about it.
Prevention and early detection are keys to success in the battle against colorectal cancer. Screening can detect polyps in the colon and rectum before they have a chance to develop into cancer and spread to other parts of the body.
A group of Guilford County agencies, including the Guilford County Department of Public Health, the High Point Housing Authority, High Point Regional Health System, Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency, The Community Clinic of High Point, the Adult Health Center of HPRHS, and Cornerstone Health Care, along with researchers from UNC Lineberger are working to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in High Point. Together, they are creating and evaluating a community-wide program to raise awareness about colorectal cancer, thanks to funding from the University Cancer Research Fund, the Centers for Disease Control and the National Cancer Institute.
The partners are promoting colorectal cancer screening through education and distribution of Beckman Coulter ICT fecal occult blood tests (iFOBT), focusing primarily on under- and uninsured High Point residents. The iFOBT is a take-home test that finds hidden blood in the stool, which can be a sign of colorectal cancer, polyps or other bowel diseases. The group also plans to deliver diagnostic and treatment services for all patients with positive test results, regardless of their ability to pay. Enrollment in the project began in March and will likely extend into fall 2008.
For patients who receive a positive iFOBT result and have insufficient or no health insurance coverage, HPRHS and Cornerstone Health Care have agreed to provide follow-up diagnostic and medical services, including a colonoscopy. This is an essential part of the pilot program because early colorectal cancer detection can beat the disease only when accompanied by appropriate diagnostic evaluation and treatment.