[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1862-S1863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, this March, as we mark National Colorectal 
Cancer Awareness Month, we must remember those we have lost to 
colorectal cancer, acknowledge the progress we have made to date to 
reduce colorectal cancer cases, and renew our commitment to fighting 
this devastating illness. Since its inception in 2000, National 
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month has given us the opportunity to raise 
awareness and remind people of the importance of cancer screening in 
the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer.
  While cases of colorectal cancer have declined, it is still the 
second leading cause of cancer death among men and women combined in 
the U.S. This year alone, more than 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed 
with colorectal cancer. Over 52,000 people will die from the disease. 
In 2018, 2,597 Marylanders were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 
982 patients died from it.
  Colorectal cancer has a disproportionate impact among racial and 
ethnic minorities, particularly Black Americans, Jews of Eastern 
European descent, and Indigenous communities. Black men are 22 percent 
more likely than non-Hispanic White men are, and Black women are 18 
percent more likely than non-Hispanic White women to be diagnosed with 
colorectal cancer. American Indians and Alaska Natives are 10 percent 
more likely than non-Hispanic White Americans to die of colorectal 
cancer. Jews of Eastern European decent are two to three times more 
likely to get colorectal cancer than the greater population.
  Fortunately, because of early detection and prevention tools, 
colorectal cancer is among the most preventable of all cancers. 
Colorectal cancer screenings not only detect the disease in its early 
stages, but can catch precancerous growths, or polyps, too. When these 
polyps are found, they can be removed and prevent cancer from 
occurring. Regular screening saves lives. Over 60 percent of deaths 
from colorectal cancer could have been prevented with screening, but 
one in three adults in the U.S. aged 45 to 75 years old is still not 
getting screened as recommended. Colonoscopies are one of the most 
effective screening methods for colorectal cancer.
  That is why I have long worked to increase access to colonoscopies. 
The Affordable Care Act ensured that Medicare would cover the cost of 
screening colonoscopies without cost-sharing for most seniors, but the 
work was not done. Since 2013, I led the Removing Barriers to 
Colorectal Cancer Screening Act with Senators Brown, Wicker, and 
Collins to ensure Medicare beneficiaries would not be charged for a 
colonoscopy, regardless of whether a polyp or tissue is removed. This 
legislation was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 
2021. The law decreases barriers to screening by ensuring that seniors 
do not have to worry about unexpected medical costs if a polyp is 
detected and removed during a screening colonoscopy.
  I am also proud of the work Maryland is doing to decrease rates of 
colorectal cancer. Through the Maryland Colorectal Cancer Control 
Program, Maryland has used funding from the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention--CDC--and the State's CRF Cancer Prevention Education, 
Screening, and Treatment Program to promote screening. The program 
partners with local health departments, community health centers, and 
various health systems, among other entities. Because of these and 
other initiatives, 72.5 percent of adults 50 years and older in 
Maryland were up-to-date with colorectal cancer screenings in 2018, 
slightly above the Healthy People 2020 target of 70.5 percent.
  Still, we must do more to ensure younger Americans are aware of their 
risks of colorectal cancer and its symptoms and get the appropriate

[[Page S1863]]

screenings to prevent and detect the disease. This year, Fight 
Colorectal Cancer placed 27,400 blue flags on the National Mall to 
represent the number of people under 50 expected to be diagnosed with 
colorectal cancer in 2030. The installation not only raises awareness 
of the increase in colorectal cancer in this younger population but 
also serves as a tribute to all those touched by the disease. By 2030, 
colorectal cancer is projected to be the leading cancer killer for 
those aged 20 to 49.
  This is why continued investments in awareness and screening programs 
and research into effective treatments are so essential. Colorectal 
cancer research is one of the least funded among different cancers. I 
am proud of the work that the National Institutes of Health's National 
Cancer Institute and other Maryland-based research institutions and 
healthcare providers have done to reduce colorectal cancer rates, but 
they all need more resources.
  We have made progress in combatting colorectal cancer, but there is 
more work for us to do. This is why I will continue to work my 
colleagues to fight this terrible disease.

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