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Watch the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month webcast

Throughout March, the American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT) has been sharing content around three calls to action to support colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness: get screened, encourage your loved ones to get screened, and leverage ACS NCCRT resources to increase CRC screening and drive awareness in your community. 

Each year, the ACS NCCRT hosts its National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month webcast celebrating national CRC achievements and covering the latest state of the field updates that inform the ACS NCCRT’s work as well as the work of its partners and members. 

The recording of the 2025 webcast, which took place on March 12, is available now. 

In the recording, you’ll hear from: 

  • Dr. Priti Bandi, scientific director, Risk Factors & Screening Research, American Cancer Society
  • Other special guests like the 2025 ACS NCCRT National Achievement Awards honorees.

  • ACS NCCRT chair and vice-chair, Steven Itzkowitz, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, and Gloria Coronado, PhD

Follow the ACS NCCRT on LinkedIn and X to stay up to date on roundtable news and engagement opportunities. 

The ACS National Roundtables are a recommended and proven model for creating sustained partnerships across diverse sectors and communities to collaboratively address the most complex problems across the cancer continuum. ACS provides organizational leadership and expertise to support the roundtables and their members in advancing a shared commitment to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. 

  • Chemotherapy and endocrine therapy have different long-term effects on physical health decline for breast cancer survivors

    A new study led by ACS investigators shows breast cancer survivors in the United States receiving chemotherapy or endocrine therapy (without chemotherapy) had different long-lasting physical health decline compared to women who were cancer-free. Physical health is the body’s ability to function normally and includes factors like being able to carry out activities, daily living, fatigue, or pain. The findings are published Feb. 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

    “Patients with breast cancer suffer from an abundance of long-term and late health effects and are at risk of earlier onset disease and higher incidence of chronic health conditions,” said Dr. Clara Bodelon, senior principal scientist, survivorship research at ACS and lead author of the report. “These findings are important because understanding factors related to their physical health decline could lead to interventions to improve their health outcomes.”

    “This is encouraging news for breast cancer survivors. If they do not receive chemotherapy, it is unlikely that they will have long-lasting physical health decline,” Bodelon added. “However, further studies are needed to confirm these results and to better understand the health consequences of these treatments.”

    Dr. Lauren Teras is the senior author of the study. Other ACS researchers who contributed to the report include Matthew Masters, Den E Bloodworth, Peter Briggs, Dr. Erika Rees-Punia, Dr. Lauren McCullough, and Dr. Alpa Patel.

    Like and share this news on X. 

  • Early palliative care remains underused among patients with advanced cancer

    ​Despite a decade of growth, only 10% of Medicare beneficiaries with distant-stage cancer received early palliative care in 2019, according to new research led by ACS investigators. The study also finds differences between individual doctors and hospitals accounted for 30% - 50% of the variation in early palliative care billing, suggesting where patients receive care plays a major role in whether they get guideline-recommended palliative care. The study was published March 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). 

    “These findings are disappointing as strong evidence and clinical guidelines support the benefits of early palliative care for these patients,” said Dr. Xuesong Han, scientific director, health services research at ACS and senior author of the study. “Palliative care improves quality of life, reduces suffering, and can even extend survival, yet most patients who would benefit are not receiving it.”

    “One of the most striking findings from our study is who treats you and where you receive care may influence access to early palliative care more than a patient’s clinical condition,” added Dr. Xin Hu, a visiting scientist at ACS and lead author of the study. “This underscores the need to minimize systemic and structural barriers, so access to this important treatment is not limited. Fighting cancer should also mean fighting unnecessary suffering.”

    Other ACS researchers contributing to this study include Kewei Sylvia Shi, Dr. Zhiyuan Zheng, Dr. Jingxuan Zhao, and Dr. Robin Yabroff.

    Like and share this news on X.​​​


  • New ACS-led study finds wildfires pose challenges to cancer care

    ​Due to the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic consequences of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, people with cancer are especially vulnerable during extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires, which are becoming more common and damaging with climate change. A new national study led by ACS and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers finds patients whose facility was impacted by a wildfire disaster during recovery from lung cancer surgery had longer length of stay (LOS) than similar patients treated at the same facility, but at times when no disaster occurred. The findings were published March 11 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).

    “These data are critical as there are currently no guidelines for protecting the health and safety of patients recovering from lung cancer surgery during wildfires in the United States,” said Dr. Leticia Nogueira, scientific director, health services research, and lead author of the study. “In the absence of guidelines, clinicians might resort to improvisational strategies, such as extending post-operative length of stay to support surgical recovery and better protect the health and safety of patients during wildfires.”

    “Future studies should evaluate whether extended hospital stay improves surgical care outcomes during disasters,” Nogueira added. “Also, these findings should be considered for disaster preparedness guidelines tailored to vulnerable patient populations and contextual adjustments to quality care metrics.”

    ACS researcher Dr. Robin Yabroff also contributed to the study.

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  • Short-term limited duration insurance plans associated with advanced cancer diagnoses

    Short-term limited duration (STLD) insurance plans do not provide comprehensive coverage and can leave patients who are diagnosed with a serious disease like cancer with catastrophic costs. In a new,​ large national study published March 18 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, ACS researchers found the 2018 federal policy loosening restrictions on STLD insurance plans was associated with an increase in late-stage cancer diagnoses in states without or with inadequate additional STLD plan regulatory protections. 

    “This research underscores the importance of state and federal policies banning or significantly restricting short-term limited duration insurance plans,” said Nova Yang, MSPH, associate scientist, health services research, and lead author of the study. “Most of these STLD plans do not cover essential health services, such as cancer screenings, which may delay cancer diagnoses, resulting in later stage disease, where treatment is more intensive, and the prognosis is worse.”  

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Dr. Jingxuan Zhao, Dr. Robin Yabroff, and senior author Dr. Xuesong Han.

    Like and share this news on X. ​​

  • Nearly four million pre-mature lung cancer deaths in US averted and 76 million years of lives gained due to tobacco control

    New research led by ACS estimates more than 3.8 million lung cancer deaths were averted and a little over 76 million years of life gained in the United States during 1970-2022 due to substantial reductions in smoking prevalence driven by tobacco control. The study is published March 25 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

    ​“The substantial estimated numbers of averted lung cancer deaths and person-years of life gained highlight the remarkable effect of progress against smoking on reducing premature mortality from lung cancer,” said Dr. Farhad Islami, senior scientific director, cancer disparity research, and lead author of the study. “However, despite these findings, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and smoking-attributable morbidity and mortality from other cancers or diseases remain high.”

    “Reducing smoking through tobacco control has saved millions of lives and can save millions more in the future,” Dr. Islami added. “But we need a stronger commitment at the local, state, and federal levels to help further reduce smoking and substantially augment the progress against smoking-related mortality. It’s also important that these tobacco control programs be designed to reach groups at a higher risk of smoking, such as people of lower socioeconomic status, to help save even more lives. For example, smoking prevalence and lung cancer mortality rates in individuals with a high school diploma or lower education levels are 5 times higher compared with individuals with a college degree.”

    “Increased and sustained funding for evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs is needed now more than ever as part of a comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco use and, ultimately, the cancer burden for everyone in the US,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president ACS CAN, “The study’s findings show the impact of past tobacco control measures but also underscore the preventable deaths that continue to persist. Access to barrier-free, culturally competent cessation services, substantially increasing tobacco taxes, and implementing comprehensive smoke-free policies are proven policies to help people quit and prevent people, especially youth, from ever starting.”

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Dr. Nigar Nargis, Dr. Qinran Liu, Dr. Priti Bandi, Rebecca L. Siegel, Dr. Parichoy Pal Choudhury, and senior author Dr. Ahmedin Jemal.

    Like and share this news on X.

  • Podcast highlights VOICES study

    ​CancerSpeak: A podcast from "Cancer," an interdisciplinary international journal of the American Cancer Society, posted an episode about the VOICES of Black Women study on March 25. In the episode, Cancer Disparities Research Section Editor Dr. Camille Ragin interviews Dr. Lauren McCullough, one of the study’s principal investigators. Dr. McCullough was also the lead author of a newly published editorial in "Cancer" that explores the rationale behind the VOICES study and its potential to drive meaningful change in cancer prevention and care. ​

    The podcast can be listened to here or on other podcasting platforms (Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, etc.). ​

    To learn more: ​

    • Listen to the podcast.
    • ​Read Dr. McCullough’s editorial in "Cancer."
    • Learn more about the VOICES of Black Women study.
    • Explore the American Cancer Society report “Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People, 2025” referenced in this episode.
    • Amplify on social media. ​​

  • Patient Support Pillar releases annual impact report

    ​The Patient Support Pillar is excited to release its second annual Patient Support Impact Report. The report is themed “Bold Together” to recognize our commitment to every person with cancer and their families and the collaboration and teamwork it takes to achieve our ambitious goals. It covers our program of work in cancer care, reducing the risk of cancer, and cancer navigation. 

    ​Inside this interactive digital report, you’ll find details on some of our key successes this past year, including: 

    • ​Reaching 111 million lives, providing critical support to people facing cancer and their families through essential programs, services, and expert information. 
    • Saving $73 million in hotel costs for people facing cancer through our Hope Lodge communities, ensuring no one faces cancer alone.
    • A celebration of the thousands of people facing cancer served by our transportation programs, ensuring that not having a ride never gets in the way of making it to critical appointments. 
    • Exciting reporting on how we addressed food and financial insecurity, and interruptions to cancer care so people facing cancer can continue treatment. 
    • An ambitious new program that is leading the field of professional patient navigation, ACS LION. 
    • Our efforts to make cancer information more understandable and easier to find for anyone who needs it. 
    • A mini documentary celebrating the patients who found a home away from home in our Hope Lodge locations. 
    • ​Sneak peeks into some of the bold new initiatives we have planned for 2025. 
    ​How You Can Help 

    All team members and volunteers are encouraged to amplify social media posts made by the enterprise and the Patient Support Senior Leadership Team on LinkedIn​ over the coming days and weeks. You can select the repost option and share your comments indicating your involvement in the work. Team members and volunteers are also encouraged to share the report with partners in your network.​​

  • ACS releases infographic in multiple languages

    ​In May 2024, ACS launched the inaugural Cancer Facts & Figures for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander People, 2024-2026. The report shows cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States nationally but ranks first in Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese individuals, with lung cancer the leading cause of death in men of every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander (AANHPI) ethnic group. 

    For women, the report also shows lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women who are Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Native Hawaiian. In Guamanian, Samoan, Filipino, and Asian Indian women, breast cancer ranks first. 

    At the time of the report, an infographic highlighting key cancer statistics for disaggregated Asian American and Pacific Islander ethnic groups in the United States was released in English. ACS recently released the infographic in Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Hawaiian, and Hindi. By providing this infographic in multiple languages, ACS aims to ensure that culturally and linguistically diverse AANHPI communities have access to vital cancer information. Increasing awareness and understanding can help promote early detection, encourage preventive care, and reduce health disparities impacting these communities. 

    The infographics can be accessed on cancer.org​. (Please utilize the drop-down menu to select the language you desire.) ​
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