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Prevention Works Miracles

Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

In March 2007, after a series of fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) had come back negative despite having a diagnosis of anemia, a nurse told Reverend Vaughn Profit-Breaux about a new program offered through Public Health - Seattle & King County for prevention screening.

Thanks to funds from a cooperative agreement with CDC, a colorectal cancer screening (CRC) demonstration program had been established in his community to increase screenings among people aged 50 years and older. The program is designed to provide screening and follow up tests for low-income persons aged 50 to 64 years who are underinsured or uninsured for CRC screening. In the Washington program, there is an emphasis on reaching American Indian, Alaska Native, and African American populations.

“The program was so new, I was the first patient to be referred to the screening,” said Rev. Profit-Breaux. “After that FOBT came back positive, I had a colonoscopy scheduled and by the time I woke up from it, they had a clear photo of the mass in my colon. I didn’t have any insurance, yet within a week or two of my diagnosis, everything was rolling for my treatment.”

CDC supports five pilot sites for the colorectal cancer screening program: in Baltimore, Maryland; St. Louis, Missouri; the state of Nebraska; Suffolk County, New York; and Seattle and King County, Washington. Programs like this are an integral part of CDC’s goal to ensure health at all stages of life. For older adults the goal is to increase the number of who live longer, high-quality, productive, and independent lives.

A Hero in Our Midst

“At one time in my life, I was 60 pounds overweight. I never exercised. I lived on junk food, and soft drinks pumped through my veins,” says Marcella Morton…but not today. Now, Morton is a regular marathon runner and even qualified to run the Boston Marathon. Her inspiration was a promise she made years ago to a friend dying of cancer. She promised her that she would exercise and eat right and try to live a healthy life.

Morton began a walking program with just 15 minutes a day—that progressed to a running program and a goal to run a marathon. She also replaced her snack cakes with veggies.

And in 2002, Morton became a member of the CDC-funded Steps Wings Program, actively volunteering her time, talents, and skills to the program that is dedicated to helping and encouraging others to live longer, healthier lives.

In spring 2007, Morton, a member of the Cherokee Nation, was honored as one of the first recipients of the Steps Community Heroes Awards Program for her outstanding contributions to improve the health and well-being of others in her community. Steps Heroes are making significant and sustainable contributions in local schools, work sites, health care, and community settings by making their communities a healthier place to live.

CDC provides grants to Steps communities to implement chronic disease prevention and health promotion activities to address obesity, diabetes, and asthma, as well as their related risk behaviors: physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use. CDC supports 40 Steps communities nurturing more health heroes throughout the country.