“The most preventable, least prevented cancer”

Screening can prevent colorectal cancer through the detection and removal of precancerous growths (polyps), as well as detect cancer at an early stage, when treatment is usually less intensive and more successful. People living in rural areas are much less likely to undergo screening due to a number of barriers, but some rural clinics have achieved high colorectal cancer screening rates despite such constraints. Dr. Jennifer Weiss of the University of Wisconsin-Madison joins the podcast to talk about how these clinics have been successful in “developing relevant, impactful, and sustainable approaches to increasing colorectal cancer screening in rural communities.” The American Cancer Society recommends regular colorectal cancer screening for people at average risk starting at age 45: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/find-cancer-early/american-cancer-society-guidelines-for-the-early-detection-of-cancer.html. 4:45 – Jennifer Weiss, MD, MS is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She’s a two-time American Cancer Society grantee. 5:21 – Why she has described colorectal cancer as the “most preventable, but least prevented cancer” 8:15 – The American Cancer Society recommends regular colorectal cancer screening for people at average risk starting at age 45 13:19 – On why where you live can impact access to colorectal cancer screening 16:23 – Some rural clinics are doing better than others in terms of colorectal cancer screening and outcomes… 20:11 – …why is that? What are they doing right? 22:58 – A great real-life example of a rural clinic boosting screening rates 29:05 – Gaps that she hopes her research will fill 30:23 – What she’s most excited about 33:18 – A message she’d like to share with cancer patients, survivors and caregivers