Oregon Health Authority Highlights Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Oregon OHA News

Published March 26th, 2026

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a notice highlighting Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and encouraging residents to undergo screening. The notice provides statistics on colorectal cancer in Oregon and emphasizes the importance of early detection and screening, particularly for individuals under 50.

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What changed

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has issued a notice for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, emphasizing the importance of screening and risk reduction. The notice highlights that colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in Oregon, with increasing rates among those under 50, and that approximately 90% of cases are preventable through screening. It encourages Oregonians to discuss screening with their healthcare providers, noting that routine screening is now recommended to begin at age 45.

While this is an informational notice and does not impose new regulatory requirements, compliance officers should be aware of the public health messaging. Healthcare providers are encouraged to promote screening options, including at-home stool tests and colonoscopies, and to be mindful of the increased incidence in younger populations. The OHA also notes that the Oregon Health Plan covers certain screening tests with no cost sharing, aiming to reduce barriers to care, especially in rural areas.

What to do next

Review public health messaging regarding colorectal cancer screening recommendations.
Ensure healthcare providers are aware of updated screening age recommendations (starting at 45).

Source document (simplified)

Oregon Health Authority highlights Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, encourages screening

Site Navigation Link to media kit with soundbites about colorectal cancer with Tom Jeanne, M.D., M.P.H., deputy state health officer and epidemiologist at OHA

March 26, 2026

What You Should Know:

Colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in Oregon.
Colorectal cancer rates for people under 50 are increasing, screening age recommendations have changed.
About 90% of colorectal cancer cases can be prevented through screening. PORTLAND, Ore. - In recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is encouraging people in Oregon to talk with their health care providers about colorectal cancer screening and take steps to reduce their risk of the disease.

“Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when it is detected early through screening," said Tom Jeanne, M.D., M.P.H., deputy state health officer and epidemiologist at OHA. “Early detection is key. When colorectal cancer is found early, it is highly treatable and often preventable through removal of precancerous polyps. We encourage Oregonians to learn their risk and talk with their health care provider about getting screened."

Colorectal cancer — cancer of the colon or rectum — remains one of the most common cancers in Oregon.

According to state cancer registry data:

1,727 Oregonians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, and more than 648 people died from the disease that year.
Overall, colorectal cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in Oregon.

Screening saves lives

Although colorectal cancer most often affects older adults, health experts are seeing an increase in diagnoses among younger people. In Oregon, and across the United States, the rate of colorectal cancer diagnoses among people under age 50 has increased in recent decades.

Due to this increase, health experts now recommend that most adults begin routine colorectal cancer screening at age 45.

Screening can detect precancerous polyps before they become cancer or identify cancer early, when cancer is easier to treat.

Screening for colorectal cancer is especially important since many people don't experience symptoms until a later stage of the cancer, when it's harder to treat.

Screening options most commonly include at-home stool tests and colonoscopies, although other procedures can be recommended by health care providers.

Oregon has made progress in reducing colorectal cancer rates over the past two decades. The state's colorectal cancer diagnosis rate declined from 52.5 cases per 100,000 people in 2000 to about 30.8 cases per 100,000 in 2021, reflecting improvements in prevention and screening.

Even so, people in rural Oregon have lower colorectal cancer screening rates than people in cities. They also have higher overall rates of colorectal cancer, later‑stage diagnoses, and higher death rates. This is mostly because rural communities have less access to primary care, cancer screening, and medical specialists. Wait times are longer, and sometimes there are no providers at all. As a result, many people must travel long distances for care, which can deter them from seeking care altogether.

OHA is committed to eliminating health inequities and continues to work with rural and frontier communities in many ways to reduce identified barriers to care. The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) covers **** some at-home stool tests, as well as colonoscopies, with no cost sharing. Health care providers serving people in rural areas can recommend at-home stool kits for appropriate patients, which can help reduce barriers to getting screened.

Reducing your risk

OHA encourages Oregonians to take steps that can help lower their risk of colorectal cancer:

Get screened starting at age 45 or earlier if recommended by a provider
Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains
Avoid high amounts of fat and limit processed and red meats
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
Stay physically active
Avoid tobacco To learn more about colorectal cancer screening in Oregon, visit the Oregon Healthy Authority's colorectal cancer program website www.thecanceryoucanprevent.org.