In 2003, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene created a coalition focused on colorectal cancer screening. A recent study published in the journal Cancer analyzed the initiative's progress.
The New York Citywide Colon Cancer Control Coalition is focused on not only increasing screening rates, but also on addressing health disparities. In 2003, the city had a CRC screening rate of 42 percent, according to the study.
By 2007, the screening rate was 62 percent, and by 2014 the rate had increased to nearly 70 percent. The study authors noted the coalition was able to eliminate a significant amount of racial and ethnic disparities.