Abstract
ABSTRACT: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in both cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths in men and women in the United States. Fortunately, both incidence and deaths have declined due to the increased use of CRC screening to find and remove precancerous polyps and to diagnose CRC at earlier, more treatable stages. Deaths from CRC have shifted to a new demographic, with a recent increase in incidence of 2% per year in people younger than 55 years. The American Cancer Society has issued a qualified recommendation that screening start at the age of 45 years because of this increase in early-onset CRC. There are multiple CRC screening test options. Professional organizations vary in their screening guidelines, but regardless of these differences, screening has been shown to save lives. Currently, one out of every three adults aged 50-75 years are not screened as recommended. The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCRCRT) has placed a high priority on screening people who remain unscreened. Nurse practitioners can improve the screening rates in outpatient clinics and health systems by adopting the campaign, "80% in Every Community," which has a goal to reduce disparities and improve screening rates in underserved and rural populations. The NCRCRT resources will help clinics and health systems reach the screening goal of 80% in every community.