LANSING (WKZO-AM) — The Michigan Department of Health has been given a $7 million grant to increase colon cancer screening rates in the state to 80 percent by 2018.
“Our rates are at 72 percent and that’s not bad, but there’s certainly room for improvement,” spokesperson Angela Minicuci said. “Through this grant, we’re going to be working through our healthcare system to find ways to improve that rate.”Minicuci said the state office was one of 30 agencies to get the funding.
Agency representatives say they will focus primarily on boosting the rates among low-income populations, where screening isn’t as prevalent.
The Mayo Clinic said somewhere between 200,000 and 3 million Americans are diagnosed with the disease annually.
– Anthony Pollreisz
