Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S. with predominately high rates of incidence among Hispanic and rural populations. The first ACCION (Against Colorectal Cancer In Our Neighborhoods) program was implemented in El Paso, TX in 2012. The program recognized the reported high rates of CRC incidence among the Hispanic population and sought to mitigate the effects of C
RC by providing no-cost education, FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) screening and colonoscopies, and patient navigation to the residents of El Paso. During the initial three years of operation, ACCION saw tremendous success, and due to this success, the program has been funded for another three years in the El Paso area. The ACCION for Rural West Texas is modeled after its predecessor, and has been specifically developed to serve residents of rural communities where high rates of CRC incidence are also prevalent. It is grant-funded by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas and offered by the Department of Public Health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. The overarching goal of this program is to lower the CRC morbidity and mortality rates in nine (9) selected counties in the rural West Texas area. Counties served include: Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn & Terry. ACCION for Rural West Texas will continue to provide no-cost CRC prevention services including education, FIT testing and colonoscopies, and patient navigation. If you are someone outside of our service areas, or someone within our service areas who does not meet eligibility requirements for our services, and you would like information on low or no-cost screening and treatment, please visit the following address: http://ccalliance.org/financialassistance/
For additional information and resources:
CRC Risk and Warning Signs: http://ccalliance.org/nevertooyoung/risk.html
CRC Screening using FIT: http://www.ccalliance.org/screening/fecal-immunochemical-test.html
Conolonscopy: http://www.ccalliance.org/screening/colonoscopy.html
ACCION in El Paso, TX: http://elpaso.ttuhsc.edu/fostersom/accion/
Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas: http://www.cprit.state.tx.us/
