Marillac Clinic has recently partnered with The Colorado Colorectal Screening Program to provide colorectal screenings for uninsured, lawfully present Coloradans. The program funding comes from the Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Pulmonary Disease Grants Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which utilizes a portion of the tax increases on tobacco products.

The Colorado Colorectal Screening Program is managed by the University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, but it is based in more than 65 community health clinics across Colorado, including Marillac Clinic.

The program launched in January 2006, in community clinics in Northeastern Colorado, the Metro-Denver area, and Pueblo, and began expanding November 1, to reach statewide.  Marillac Clinic is now part of this expansion.  The program will serve uninsured lower income patients.

Those who do not have health insurance suffer the highest mortality rates from colon cancer. By targeting this population for screening, the program aims to detect and even prevent cancer in these high-risk individuals.  Tim Byers, MD, MPH, is the UCCC Deputy Director and director of the Colorado Colorectal Screening Program. "We are thrilled to be making such a significant impact with this program.  This new grant will allow us to reach out to more patients, and substantially reduce the suffering from colorectal cancer across Colorado," he said.

The Colorado Colorectal Screening Program screens patients by sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. The program’s goal is to detect colorectal cancers early, when they are more curable, and to prevent them altogether by removing colorectal polyps.

The program seeks to screen more than 12,500 Coloradans by 2010, contributing substantially to the state’s overall goal of screening 75 percent of Coloradans aged 50 and older by that year. It is accompanied by an awareness campaign to encourage all Coloradans 50+ to get colorectal screening exams.

Colon cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer in the United States. The disease kills an estimated 620 Coloradans a year. However, with early detection and treatment up to 80 percent of these deaths are preventable.

For more information please contact Marillac Clinic, Patient Navigator, 255-1782, or visit the Colorado Colorectal Screening Program website at www.uccc.info/colonscreen.