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Cancer Society Predicts Thousands of Prevented Deaths if Screening Rates Rise

A new study from the American Cancer Society says 21,000 deaths could be prevented each year starting in 2030 if screening rates for colorectal cancer reached 80 percent by 2018.

Dr. Alvaro Carrascal,  vice president of health systems of the Eastern Division of the American Cancer Society, says there are some significant barriers to colonoscopy screening that need to be removed.

"I think people are getting the message. Obviously, there are populations that are perhaps hearing the message but are not acting because of fear, or lack of access, or they think the screening is costly."

Carrascal says the New York State Department of Health does offer free screening for people who don't have health insurance. For those fearful of a colonoscopy, there are at-home screening tests that can be sent to a lab for analysis.

Current colorectal screening rates in New York State are about 69 percent. Screening is recommended for people over 50, or earlier if there are symptoms, a family history, or other risk factors.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S. 

Beth Adams joined WXXI as host of Morning Edition in 2012 after a more than two-decade radio career. She was the longtime host of the WHAM Morning News in Rochester. Her career also took her from radio stations in Elmira, New York, to Miami, Florida.