Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign

CDC's multiyear, multimedia Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign informs men and women aged 50 years and older about the importance of having regular colorectal cancer screening tests.

No Excuses! New Screen for Life Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

"Why should I get screened for colorectal cancer?" In new English and Spanish television PSAs, a series of diverse men and women voice misconceptions about who should be screened, and an off-screen expert explains the facts and why screening is important. The clear take-away message is that screening for colorectal cancer saves lives. You can embed these PSAs on your own blog or personal Web site. To do that, please visit CDC's Streaming Health YouTube channel.

Similarly, new English and Spanish print PSAs and posters also reveal common misconceptions about screening, while setting the record straight on who should be screened and how colorectal cancer can be prevented.

The "No Excuses" PSAs and print materials are the latest additions to a rich suite of Screen for Life resources for patients and health professionals. Print materials, including fact sheets, brochures, and posters, can be viewed, printed, and ordered online. Television and radio public service announcements can be viewed and heard online.

Screen for Life Celebrities

• Actor and musician Terrence Howard urges Americans to be screened for colorectal cancer. He talks movingly about losing his mother to colon cancer, saying, "Let my heartbreak be your wake-up call."
• In PSAs with Jimmy Smits, the actor encourages men and women aged 50 years or older to be screened for colorectal cancer. These PSAs are available in both English and Spanish.
• Actress Diane Keaton goes on camera for Screen for Life to talk about her "Grammy Keaton," who died of colon cancer.
• In posters and print ads, Katie Couric asks, "Are you the picture of health?"
• Actor Morgan Freeman urges adults who are 50 years old or older to make sure they're the picture of health by getting screened for colorectal cancer.

Katie Couric

Diane Keaton

Jimmy Smits

Campaign Messages

The central messages of Screen for Life are—

• Of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States.
• Screening saves lives.
• Colorectal cancer often can be prevented. Regular screening can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer.
• Screening can find colorectal cancer early, when treatment can be very effective.
• Polyps and colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms, especially at first.
• Both men and women are at risk.

More Information

• Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign
• Colorectal Cancer
• Send a Health-e-Card!
  Remind someone you care about to get screened for colorectal cancer with CDC's This Is Personal electronic greeting card featuring Terrence Howard.
• Colorectal Cancer Control Program