HJBR Mar/Apr 2022

42 MAR / APR 2022 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE LDH CORNER setting priorities for that plan, we chose to focus on colorectal cancer because it is one of the most frequently diagnosed and dead- liest cancers in Louisiana. This is particularly alarming because colorectal cancer is one of the most pre- ventable cancers through healthy lifestyle modifications and routine screening. It is also almost always survivable when caught early. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given our high incidence and death rate, Louisiana’s screening rates fall well below national av- erages. For several decades, incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer have decreased in the U.S. and in Louisiana due to screening tests, changes in risk factors, and improvements in treatment. But there is still much work to be done in Louisiana to improve preventive screenings and reduce EVERY YEAR in our state, we see almost 26,000 new diagnoses of invasive can- cer and lose over 9,000 Louisianans — our brothers, sisters, parents, and friends — to the disease. Cancer is surpassed only by cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in our state. In the work we do at the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), we are continually focused on reducing the burden of cancer for our residents through improved education, programs, and ser- vices. Under the leadership of LDH Secretary Courtney N. Phillips, MD, the department released its inaugural business plan (ldh. la.gov/businessplan) in November 2021. It serves as a roadmap for the current fiscal year that sets a number of ambitious goals throughout the Department. As we began COLUMN LDH CORNER COLORECTAL CANCER IN LOUISIANA: LDH’s Campaign to Combat a Deadly Foe rates of incidence and mortality. Our state’s death rate has been one of the worst in the country for too long. Like many types of cancer and other serious illness, the burden is not shared equally. Black Americans have the high- est overall incidence, highest incidence of advanced-stage disease at presentation, highest attributable mortality, and lowest survival rates after diagnosis compared to any other ethnic or racial group. They are also more likely to develop colorectal can- cer at younger ages. The new case rate of colorectal cancer for Black Louisianans is 52.6 cases per 100,000 people compared to 42.4 cases per 100,000 for white residents. The death rate for Black Louisianans is 21.0 deaths per 100,000 people compared to 14.8 per 100,000 people for white Louisianans. Courtney N. Phillips, PhD Secretary Louisiana Department of Health