In recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we are proud to highlight how the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is advancing colorectal cancer prevention and early detection.
According to the American Cancer Society, while progress has been made, colorectal cancer still is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women combined (third-leading cause for men and fourth-leading cause for women). In 2026, ACS estimates over 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer screening can prevent colorectal cancer or detect it early, when treatment is most effective.
NACDD’s Cancer Peer-to-Peer Learning Program connects more than 350 cancer public health professionals working across the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and the National Colorectal Cancer Control Program. This recipient-informed initiative enables programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to share strategies, troubleshoot challenges, and scale effective practices. Starting soon, the program will launch its 2026 Peer-to-Peer call series and webinars. The new call series and webinars will focus on program implementation strategies, data collection and management, and innovations and new technologies that improve screening reach and completion for colorectal cancer. CDC’s National Colorectal Cancer Control Program has 38 award recipients in state health departments, universities, tribal organizations, and non-profit organizations.
Additionally, NACDD continues to promote evidence-based approaches such as mailed FIT programs, which allow eligible patients to complete colorectal cancer screening at home using fecal immunochemical test kits sent directly to them. These initiatives have proven effective in increasing screening participation and helping programs reach individuals who may not complete clinic-based testing. NACDD’s Mailed FIT resource hub provides implementation guidance, workflow examples, and tools to support program adoption.
NACDD, in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board, and South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency, developed population-specific and locally relevant colorectal cancer screening messages, resources, and videos to support cancer screening in tribal communities. These tools highlight collaboration with tribal health systems, approaches to strengthen screening delivery, and strategies to improve follow-up care while aligning with local priorities and community context.
Together, NACDD and its partners remain committed to equipping Members with the tools, knowledge, and connections needed to expand screening, detect cancer earlier, and improve outcomes in communities across the country.