Alliance announces $3.4 million investment to address health disparities

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has announced a major investment by three industry partners to address health inequities in colorectal cancer among underserved communities who face barriers in access to screening and prevention.

Exact Sciences, LetsGetChecked, and Cottonelle with partner BLKHLTH have invested a total of $2.4 million through the Alliance to fund screenings. 

In addition, Brooks Bell, a young-onset colorectal cancer survivor and Alliance Board of Directors member, will invest $1 million to kickstart a national campaign to brand colon cancer as “the preventable cancer” and raise money for a health equity fund at the Alliance.

Individuals who want to find out if they qualify for a free colorectal cancer screening test should contact the Colorectal Cancer Alliance helpline at (877) 422-2030 or complete our online screening survey at quiz.getscreened.org. 

Black Americans are 20% more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 40% more likely to die from it. 

Health disparities in Black communities exist for a number of reasons, including differences in access to timely, high-quality treatment; systemic racism that has led to reduced access to and trust of the medical system; implicit bias among healthcare providers; and comorbidities.

Screening is the No. 1 way to prevent colorectal cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable. Screening should begin at age 45, but nearly 1 in 3 eligible Americans has not been screened for the disease. Most people have screening options that include at-home tests. 

“As the leading colorectal cancer advocacy organization, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance recognizes the value of partnerships in expanding our reach and broadening access to preventive screenings for populations that experience the greatest disparities in health access,” said Michael Sapienza, the Alliance’s CEO.

The Partners

Exact Sciences, a leader in cancer testing committed to providing earlier answers and life-changing treatment guidance, has donated $1 million in Cologuard stool DNA tests. The program will launch in Washington, DC in partnership with two health systems. 

Cottonelle in partnership with BLKHLTH, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce the impact of racism on Black health through education and action, partnered with the Alliance to create a dedicated Screening Assistance Fund to support eligible Black patients in need of colonoscopies. Through their partnership, Cottonelle, BLKHLTH and the Alliance are working together to address stigmas, reduce barriers, and provide resources associated with screening for colorectal cancer among Black Americans.

LetsGetChecked, a leading virtual care company, partnered with the Alliance by donating $1 million worth of its Colon Cancer Screening Test with a home sample collection — along with a $100,000 donation to implement the program — for uninsured and underserved populations. 

Colorectal cancer is the third-most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the United States.