The American Gastroenterological Association, based in Bethesda, Md., has joined the Washington, D.C.-based Colorectal Cancer Alliance alongside more than 20 other organizations in urging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to protect the independence of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force as the administration considers changes, according to an Aug. 1 news release by the CCA.
The coalition is calling for continued no-cost colorectal cancer screenings for Americans starting at age 45, noting they have reduced incidence by 17% and saved an estimated 65,000 lives between 2010 and 2016. The groups warned that altering the task force’s process could put millions at risk.
Colorectal cancer rates are climbing among younger adults. The disease is the nation’s second-leading cause of cancer deaths but is largely preventable with timely screening, according to the release.
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