Colorectal Cancer Resource Materials

Please visit the Cancer Publications Center to order publications in print format.

• For Consumers
• Screening Fact Sheets for Patients
• Other Screening Materials
• Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Resources


• For Physicians and Health Professionals
• Screening Guidelines
• Screening Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
• A Call to Action Slide Set
• National/State Study of the Capacity for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-up Tests


• Scientific Resources
• CDC Publications
• Additional Scientific Publications
• Cancer Prevention and Control Database

For Consumers

Screening Fact Sheets for Patients

• Basic Facts on Screening
  This is an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand fact sheet on colorectal cancer and the importance of screening. It provides quick and simple facts about colorectal cancer, such as who is at risk, when to begin having screening tests, possible symptoms, and screening test options.

• Facts on Screening
  This fact sheet is intended to inform people who want or need detailed information about colorectal cancer and screening, such as costs and risks related to specific tests, how to prepare for testing, and insurance and Medicare coverage.

• Facts for People with Medicare
  This fact sheet is intended to inform people with Medicare about colorectal cancer and screening and how Medicare and many other types of insurance help pay for screening tests.

Other Screening Materials

• Colorectal Cancer Screening for People with Medicare
  An easy-to-read and easy-to-understand brochure on colorectal cancer and the importance of screening. It includes quick and simple facts about colorectal cancer, including who should be tested, when to begin having screening tests, possible symptoms, and screening test options.
  
  
• Colorectal Cancer Screening Saves Lives
  An easy-to-read and easy-to-understand brochure on colorectal cancer and the importance of screening. It includes quick and simple facts about colorectal cancer, including who should be tested, when to begin having screening tests, possible symptoms, and screening test options.
  
  
• Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Circle of Health for Alaskans
  This is an easy-to-read brochure specifically for Alaska Natives aged 50 years and older. It provides basic information about who is at risk, possible symptoms, screening tests and an explanation of commonly used terms related to colorectal cancer and screening tests.
  
  Note: This brochure is only available electronically in HTML and PDF format. Printed copies are not available.
  
  
• Additional Screen for Life campaign materials

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Resources
In 1999, the Senate passed a resolution to designate March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The purpose of this resolution is to bring awareness of the importance of screening and preventing colorectal cancer, the second leading cancer killer in the United States.

• Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Resources
• National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Presidential Proclamation, February 28, 2003
• National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Presidential Proclamation, March 4, 2002
• HHS Press Release: HHS Urges Colorectal Cancer Screening To Save Lives, March 13, 2002

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For Physicians and Health Professionals

Screening Guidelines
Despite the availability of effective screening tests and new guidelines recommending screening from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (updated July 2002), the American Cancer Society,* and an interdisciplinary task force, services for colorectal cancer screening are underused.

Screening Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
Revised—Health Professionals Facts on ScreeningThis fact sheet for health professionals is intended to inform people who want or need detailed information about colorectal cancer and screening, such as costs and risks related to specific tests, how to prepare for testing, and insurance and Medicare coverage.

A Call to Action Slide Set
Information in the slide presentation, A Call to Action: Prevention and Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer, will enable health care providers to be better prepared to recommend screening for the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer to their patients.

National/State Study of the Capacity for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-up Tests
In 2000, CDC began a national assessment of the capacity to perform colorectal cancer screening tests and follow-up for the U.S. population aged 50 years or older. This national assessment concluded in 2004. With CDC technical support, state-level capacity assessments were initiated in 15 states beginning in 2002. Both the national- and state-level capacity assessments will provide baseline data for the planning of widespread colorectal cancer screening at the national, state, and local level. For more information, visit the National/State Study of the Capacity for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-up Tests.

*Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.

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Scientific Resources

CDC Publications

• Notice to Readers: National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), March 19, 2004;53(10):221

• 2004/2005 Science in Brief Fact Sheet: Colorectal Cancer

• Jorgensen, CM, Cooper CP, Richards, T, Gelb, CA. Donated Television Airplay of Colorectal Cancer Education Public Service Announcements – United States, 1999 – 2002; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 2003;52(10):196-199.

• Seeff L, Nadel M, Blackman D, and Pollack LA. Colorectal Cancer Test Use Among Persons Aged 50 Years And Older – United States, 2001; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 2003;52(10):193-196.
  
  
  • Press Release, March 13, 2003
    • Colorectal Cancer Screening Fact Sheet
    • Telebriefing Transcript
       
  • 2003 Radio News Release
    • English (1:00) (WAV–1,263K)
    • Spanish (1:19) (WAV–859K)
    • Transcripts

• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), March 9, 2001;50(09)
  • Trends In Screening for Colorectal Cancer --- United States, 1997 and 1999
  • National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month --- March 2001

• National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month --- March 2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 2000; 49(10):212.

• Screening for Colorectal Cancer -- United States, 1997. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 1999; 48(06):116-121.

Additional Scientific Publications

• Cooper CP, Williams KN, Carey KA, Fowler CS, Frank M, Gelb CA. Advertising campaign on a major internet search engine to promote colorectal cancer screening. BMJ 2004;328(7449):1179-1180.

• Coughlin SS, Thompson TD. Colorectal Cancer Screening Practices Among Men and Women in Rural and Nonrural Areas of the United States, 1999.* The Journal of Rural Health 2004;20(2):118-124.

• Coughlin SS, Thompson TD, Seeff L, Richards T, Stallings F. Breast , Cervical, and Colorectal Carcinoma Screening in a Demographically Defined Region of the Southern U.S. Cancer 2002;95(10)2211–2222.

• Levin TR, Conell C, Shapiro JA, Chazan SG, Nadel MR, Selby JV. Complications of Screening Flexible Sigmoidoscopy. Gastroenterology 2002;123(6):1786–1792.

• Levin B, Smith RA, Feldman GE, Colditz GA, Fletcher RH, Nadel M, Rothenberger DA, Schroy PS, III, Vernon SW, Wender R. Promoting Early Detection Tests for Colorectal Carcinoma and Adenomatous Polyps: A Framework for Action: The Strategic Plan of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. Cancer 2002;95(8):1618–1628.

• Nadel MR, Blackman DK, Shapiro JA, Seeff LC. Are People Being Screened for Colorectal Cancer as Recommended? Results from the National Health Interview Survey. Preventive Medicine 2002;35(3):199–206.

• Seeff LC, Shapiro JA, Nadel MR. Are We Doing Enough to Screen for Colorectal Cancer? Findings From the 1999 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The Journal of Family Practice 2002;51(9):761–766.

• Jorgensen CM, Gelb CA, Merritt TL, Seeff LC. Observations from the CDC: CDC's Screen for Life: A National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign. Journal of Women's Health and Gender Based Medicine 2001;10(5):417–422.

• Ashley OS, Nadel M, Ransohoff DF. Achieving Quality in Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening for Colorectal Cancer. American Journal of Medicine 2001;111(8):643-653.

• Shapiro JA, Seeff LC, Nadel MR. Colorectal Cancer-Screening Tests and Associated Health Behaviors. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2001;21(2):132–137.

• Ries LA, Wingo PA, Miller DS, Howe HL, Weir HK, Rosenberg HM, Vernon SW, Cronin K, Edwards BK. Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1973-1997. Cancer, 2000;88(10):2398-2424.

Cancer Prevention and Control Database
The CDC's Chronic Disease Prevention database features a section for cancer prevention and control which focuses on breast, cervical, skin, and colorectal cancer. The database includes bibliographic citations and abstracts of journal articles, books, book chapters, technical reports, proceedings, papers, policy documents, legislation, and other materials authored by CDC staff.

*Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.

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Page last reviewed: Friday, September 24, 2004

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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