February 5, 2009

ANNOUNCER:

COLORECTAL CANCER IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER-RELATED DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES.  RATES OF SCREENING FOR COLORECTAL CANCER ARE CONSISTENTLY LOWER THAN THOSE FOR OTHER CANCER TYPES, PARTICULARLY BREAST AND CERVICAL. CURRENTLY, ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THOSE AT RISK FOR COLORECTAL CANCER, ADULTS 50 YEARS AND OLDER, WERE SCREENED. AN NIH STATE-OF-THE-SCIENCE PANEL WAS CONVENED THIS WEEK TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO FURTHER INCREASE THE USE AND QUALITY OF COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING IN THE U.S.  PANEL CHAIR DR. DONALD STEINWACHS IS PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY.

DR. DONALD STEINWACH, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY:

“We recognize that some will find colorectal cancer screening tests to be unpleasant and time-consuming. However, we know that [sic] people will get these tests as recommended, it will save lives.   We need to find ways to get people to have these very important tests.”

ANNOUNCER: