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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 06 2024

Contact: Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
jebelt@mt.gov

DPHHS, Montana Cancer Coalition and Coffee Shops Join Forces to Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening

HELENA – Public health officials and numerous Montana coffee shops have announced a continued effort today to promote the importance of colorectal cancer screening among individuals ages 45 to 75.

As part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is providing coffee sleeves to participating coffee shops in Montana with an important public health message: “If you are 45 or older, talk to your doctor about which Colorectal Cancer screening is right for you.”

“Colorectal cancer is preventable through screening at age 45,” said Sara Murgel of the DPHHS Cancer Control Program. “It’s vitally important that people are screened because early detection is the key.”

Murgel said that of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and the risk increases with age. Colorectal cancer occurs most often in people age 50 years or older.

A link to the participating shops can be found on the Montana Cancer Coalition Participating Coffee Shops Page.

Murgel said new data shows that Montana has experienced an increase in the percentage of men and women aged 45-75 who report being up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening.

According to 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFFS) data, 68 percent of Montanans are up-to-date, which is up from 62 percent in 2018.

However, Murgel said the goal nationwide is to reach 80 percent. “We are improving, but we still need to keep this important issue in the forefront,” she said. “We appreciate the Montana Cancer Coalition working with coffee shops to join us in this effort.”

Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening also finds colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.

Colorectal polyps and early stage cancers don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important.

You may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer if:

you or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer;
you have inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis; or
you have a genetic syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).

Any coffee shop that wants to participate is encouraged to contact the DPHHS Montana Cancer Control Program for more information by calling Murgel at 444-1437.