Kentuckians need more life-saving screenings for colorectal cancer | Opinion
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about prevention, early detection, and lifesaving screenings. A new study from the American Cancer Society and published in the Journal of American Medicine Association, delivers a sobering reminder of why this effort matters: colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death among adults under 50 and remains the only major cancer for which mortality rates are still increasing in younger adults despite overall cancer mortality decreasing.
Even more concerning, nearly 30% of Kentuckians ages 45 and older are not up to date on their recommended colorectal cancer screenings. These troubling trends underscore the urgent need for education, timely screenings, and proactive conversations with healthcare providers to help reverse the tide and protect the next generation.
As the primary sponsor of House Bill 52 in 2024, colleagues worked with me to ensure that state policy reflects the latest advancements in medical science by requiring health insurance plans to cover preventive cancer screenings without deductibles. This includes the approximately 280,000 Kentuckians aged 45 to 64 covered by Medicaid. With broad support and the governor’s signature, we created a framework that allows innovative, evidence-based screening options to reach patients without unnecessary delay.
Thanks to HB 52, newer, more convenient options are now available. Those options include an FDA-approved blood-test for primary colorectal cancer screening, which is accessible for Kentuckians covered by Medicare, active-duty military through TRICARE and veterans via the VA Community Care Network. The innovative blood test removes many of those barriers requires no preparation, no invasive procedure and can be completed during a routine doctor’s visit.
When barriers come down, people act. In a study in rural Appalachia, screening rates more than doubled from 45% to 90% when blood-based colorectal cancer screening was added as an option. That is not a small improvement; it’s a breakthrough. Kentuckians want to protect their health when given options that fit their lives.
For years, I’ve worked to reduce barriers that keep people from getting screened. Paving pathways for access through policy saves lives. This marks an important moment where that access becomes real for thousands of Kentuckians. Early detection saves lives. When colorectal cancer is caught in its earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is 91%. When cancer is found later, that rate drops to just 13%. The difference is stark, and underscores why improving access to screening for Kentuckians must continue to be a public health priority.
Improving screening rates leads directly to earlier detection and results in better outcomes. Every Kentuckian who is screened and catches their cancer early gains time: time for treatment, for family and for a healthier life.
This moment is about more than a single test or policy. Our neighbors, family members, and our communities deserve access to screening options backed by science and designed to meet real-world needs. I’m honored to be part of the solution with the work we did on HB 52, and committed to doing more as we move forward.
I’m also hopeful that if you’re 45 or older, you’ll take the important step of getting screened — not just for your own peace of mind, but to protect your health and give yourself the best chance at early detection and effective treatment.
Representative Deanna Gordon serves the state’s 81st House District, which is located entirely within Madison County.