CRC Work Group Update - Chaired By Dr. Frank Berger

CRC Screening Subcommittee, Chaired By Dr. Jim Burch
The South Carolina Cancer Alliance Colorectal Cancer Work Group Screening Subcommittee is in the process of developing a plan for a statewide colorectal cancer screening program for South Carolina. Members of the Screening Subcommittee have consulted with the five Colorectal Cancer Screening Demonstration Programs that are currently funded by the Centers for Disease Control in addition to other states in the US who have initiated statewide screening programs. The Screening Subcommittee is working closely with our partners with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) as SCDHEC prepares for potential state funding to support a colorectal cancer screening program for our citizens who are uninsured.

CRC Messaging Subcommittee, Chaired by Anjelica Q. Davis, MPPA
The South Carolina Cancer Alliance Colorectal Cancer Messaging Subcommittee developed a statewide billboard campaign (click to see the billboards) for March 2008. The American Cancer Society, the Center for Colon Cancer Research at USC, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the South Carolina Gastroenterology Association were active participants in the development of and these partners provided the necessary funding for the statewide campaign. During March 2008 over 114 billboards were strategically placed throughout South Carolina. The Outdoor Advertising Association of South Carolina also provided us with time on digital billboards throughout the Columbia community as an in kind donation to support our efforts. Local colorectal cancer survivors and advocates were the models for this campaign to promote awareness of the prevention of colorectal cancer.

The Messaging subcommittee is working closely with FB Enterprises to develop the Shoptalk Movement campaign. The Shop Talk Movement is an outreach and awareness program that is focused on targeting African American salons and barber shops. Through this innovative awareness campaign, barber shop clients and beauty shop clients will receive information from their barbers or stylists about the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer and resources to link them to screening opportunities.

The 8 th Annual Colorectal Cancer Awareness Walk was once again coordinated by the Palmetto Health Alliance on March 8, 2008. The walk was a success and brought much needed attention to this preventable disease.

The 2 nd Unmasking Colon Cancer Ball was held on March 1, 2008 in Columbia, SC. Over 300 people attended this spectacular event and over $65,000 was raised to help support colorectal cancer: research, awareness and screening programs in South Carolina.