Screening asymptomatic people for cancer has been the most successful approach to cancer control in the United States. DCCPS has improved uptake and monitoring of cancer screening with national surveys, research networks, and registries, such as the National Health Interview Survey Cancer Control Supplement, the Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process Initiative, and the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
These efforts contributed to a roughly 20% reduction in breast cancer mortality and a roughly 40% reduction in colorectal cancer mortality. In 2019, approximately 75% of American women ages 50–74 were up to date on breast cancer screening; approximately 75% of American women ages 21–65 were up to date on cervical cancer screening; and approximately 70% of Americans ages 50–74 were up to date on colorectal cancer screening.
DCCPS has also promoted long-term colorectal cancer screenings in socioeconomically disadvantaged and racially and ethnically diverse patients in rural areas. Additionally, to maximize the benefits of screening in older women, DCCPS helped develop a model to predict breast cancer and non-cancer-related death in diverse women over the age of 55 to improve screening decisions and outcomes.