Latest news with #USPreventiveServicesTaskForce
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
As more young people get screened, more colon cancer is being found early. Here's how to lower your risk
Even more colorectal cancer cases are being found in adults under 50, and a new collection of research suggests that a surge in screening may be tied to many of the more recent diagnoses – but not the overall trend. In 2018, the American Cancer Society updated its guidelines for colon and rectal cancer screening, recommending that adults at average risk get screened starting at age 45 – earlier than 50, which was previously advised. Then, in 2021, the US Preventive Services Task force also lowered the recommended age to start screening for colon and rectal cancers from 50 to 45. The shift in screening guidelines is associated with a recent increase in early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses, but it does not explain the rise among younger adults in general – a trend that began in the mid-1990s and includes late-stage cancers, as well. Colorectal cancer refers to colon cancer, which starts in the colon, and rectal cancer, which starts in the rectum. 'The drivers of rising incidence are still unknown, but many research efforts are ongoing, with investigations covering the gamut from microplastics to ultra processed food and many other gut exposures introduced in the last half of the 20th century, when this began,' Elizabeth Schafer, associate scientist of surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society, said in an email. Lowering the screening age 'has likely facilitated earlier detection of cancers that might have been missed,' but there is still more work to do to identify the driving factors behind the ongoing overall rise of colorectal cancer in younger ages, Dr. Joseph Rinaldi, a gastroenterologist at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in an email. 'It is likely that factors beyond screening guidelines are contributing to the overall rise in colorectal cancer incidence,' Rinaldi said. 'Much work remains to identify causal factors – whether environmental, genetic, or population-based – that can be targeted for prevention and, potentially, reversal of this trend.' Now, research conducted by the American Cancer Society that was published Monday in the medical journal JAMA found that the share of US adults ages 45 to 49 who are up to date on colorectal cancer screening climbed from 20.8% in 2019 and 19.7% in 2021 to 33.7% in 2023. 'We've been waiting for screening to take off in this age group,' Schafer, an author on the new screening study, said in the email. 'But the real thrill is the translation to early diagnosis, which means less intense treatment and lives saved.' A second study, also conducted by the American Cancer Society and published Monday in JAMA, found that the prevalence of early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses among adults 45 to 49 increased from 9.4 cases per 100,000 people in 2019 to 11.7 per 100,000 in 2021 and then to 17.5 per 100,000 in 2022. That translates to a 50% relative increase between 2021 and 2022. 'If screening was the cause of the rise, the increase would have been for early- instead of late-stage disease,' said Schafer, lead author of the second paper. 'Local stage diagnosis was rare in this age group before screening because there are usually no symptoms yet,' Schafer said of early-stage cancers that have not spread to other parts of the body. 'So yes, it was a bit shocking, actually, to see early-stage incidence double from 9.4 to 17.5 per 100,000 in this newly screened group.' As a rise in colon and rectal cancers persists among younger adults, public health experts now urge them to know the warning signs and to get screened when eligible. The signs and symptoms to watch for More than half of the people who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer before 50 are not eligible for screening because they haven't yet reached the recommended age of 45. And most people who are eligible have still not been screened, said Jessica Star, associate scientist of cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, who was lead author on the new screening study and an author on the other paper. Whether someone is recommended for screening or not, they should still watch for signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and talk with their doctor if they notice any, she said. In the United States, about 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. The most common symptom is rectal bleeding,' Star said in an email, adding that 41% of patients under 50 tend to experience this symptom, compared with 26% of patients older than 50. Many people also may have abdominal cramping or pain. 'Young people, especially, are reluctant to talk about these types of symptoms, but it could actually save their life,' Star said. 'Other important symptoms include a persistent change in bowel habits or the shape of stool, decreased appetite, and weight loss. People with any of these symptoms that persist for several weeks should be followed up with a doctor's visit,' she said. 'If you are young and your concerns are not being addressed, get a second opinion. There are too many stories about young people being told they have hemorrhoids, finding out months or years later that it is cancer.' When Kelly Spill, 33, experienced symptoms of colorectal cancer after the birth of her first child, she said, her doctors told her that they were tied to being postpartum and internal hemorrhoids. 'One day I went to the bathroom, and I looked down, and you would have thought it was my time of the month, and it most certainly was not. That's when it became extremely alarming,' Spill told CNN in May of the blood in her stool. When she noticed massive amounts of blood again, she took photos and showed them to a primary care physician. The doctor immediately ordered a colonoscopy, and that's what led to her being diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer at age 28 in 2020. 'To self-advocate is such a big one,' Spill said. 'If I didn't push, push, push, I don't know where I would be, and especially as a new mom.' Spill was treated with an immunotherapy drug called dostarlimab and is now a healthy mother of three. She remains cancer-free. How to reduce your risk Getting screened can help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, because almost all colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. But through screening, these polyps can be identified and removed before they turn cancerous. Current options for colorectal cancer screening for people at average risk include a stool-based fecal test either annually or every three years; a traditional colonoscopy every 10 years; a virtual colonoscopy every five years; or a sigmoidoscopy procedure, which involves using a tube-like instrument called an endoscope to examine the lower part of the colon, every five years. A separate study published Monday in JAMA found that when people newly eligible for screening were automatically mailed a fecal test kit at their home address without asking for it, they were more likely to complete screening than those who were asked to actively choose between a colonoscopy, a fecal test or deferring screening altogether. 'Another important question is how to get more people screened, especially people without access to healthcare, a group that had no significant increase in screening in our study,' Schafer, who was not involved in that study, said in the email. Despite recent increases in screening, it's still estimated that more than 1 in 3 adults 45 and older are not getting screened as recommended, according to the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. There are other steps people can take to help prevent colorectal cancer. 'There are many things people of all ages can do to reduce their risk, including not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, being physically active, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and eating a healthy diet that is low in red and processed meat and high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables,' Star said. More than half of all colorectal cancers in the US are attributable to those modifiable risk factors, according to the American Cancer Society. 'There have been several studies that work to identify factors contributing to the development of colon cancer. Maintaining a physically active lifestyle and a healthy weight is important, as obesity has been linked to early-onset disease,' Rinaldi said. 'I also encourage avoiding tobacco, refined grains, and sugary beverages and instead focus on consuming a fiber-rich diet that is more plant-based and that limits the consumption of red and processed meats, as this is thought to be protective to colon health.' Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
A key habit boosts colorectal cancer survival rates — as docs see ‘tremendous increase' in young people with the disease
Don't stall — your butt is on the line. Nearly 53,000 Americans are expected to die of colorectal cancer this year, making it one of the deadliest cancers in the US. Though the death rate has been declining in older adults, it has been steadily rising among people younger than 55 since the 1990s. Because of this worrisome trend, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered its recommendation for starting colorectal cancer screening from age 50 to 45 in 2021. The American Cancer Society (ACS) made the same suggestion in 2018 for people at average risk for the disease. 4 Though the colorectal cancer death rate has been declining in older adults, it has been steadily rising among people younger than 55 since the 1990s. ryanking999 – New research out Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows the guidance is working. Colorectal cancer screening among Americans aged 45 to 49 rose by 62% from 2019 to 2023. 'It's not only thrilling to see the increase in colorectal cancer screening among younger adults, but also how it likely ties into rises in earlier stage diagnosis as noted in the other ACS-led paper,' said lead study author Jessica Star, an ACS associate scientist for cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research. The increase in screenings appears to have paved the way for an uptick in diagnoses of early-stage colorectal cancer among 45- to 49-year-olds. Early stage typically means the disease hasn't spread beyond the colon or rectum. Early-stage diagnoses in 45- to 49-year-olds rose from 11.7 cases per 100,000 people in 2021 to 17.5 cases per 100,000 people in 2022, according to a study also published Monday in JAMA. 4 Because of this concerning trend, the US Preventive Services Task Force lowered its recommendation for starting colorectal cancer screening from age 50 to 45 in 2021. A colonoscopy, a popular screening method, is shown here. ShvedKristina – Early detection can significantly improve survival rates and treatment outcomes. 'We still have a long way to go,' Star said. 'Screening for colorectal cancer in ages 45-49 remains suboptimal and has not increased equitably by both educational attainment and insurance status.' Colonoscopies, when a doctor uses a long, thin, flexible tube to examine the colon for abnormalities, spiked 43% and stool-based testing jumped more than 5-fold from 2019 to 2023 in the 45 to 49 group. Every racial and ethnic group underwent more screenings, as people without a high school diploma and uninsured people sat on the sidelines. ACS warns that screening is more important than ever. Advanced-stage colorectal cancer has risen 1.7% to 2.9% annually since 2004 among adults younger than 45 and even more sharply in the past decade in people 45 to 54. 4 Scientists aren't exactly sure why colorectal cancer patients are getting younger. Several factors could be to blame. Nadzeya – 'I've been in practice for 25 years, and I can tell you over the last 10 years and particularly over the last five years, we have seen a tremendous increase in cancer in young patients,' Dr. David Rivadeneira — director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Huntington Hospital and a colorectal cancer specialist, who was not involved in the new research — told The Post. 'We never used to see this,' he added. 'This used to be a diagnosis you give to someone in their mid-50s, 60s, 70s or 80s.' Scientists aren't exactly sure why colorectal cancer patients are getting younger. They have pointed the finger at the prevalence of obesity, sedentary lifestyles, the Western diet, excess sugar consumption and environmental factors such as pollutants in the air, soil and water. Rivadeneira noted that he now recommends a colonoscopy for people with any concerning symptoms, no matter their age. Common colorectal cancer symptoms include changes in bathroom habits, blood in stool, stomach pain or cramping, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Surgery is the primary treatment for most colon cancers, with survival rates influenced by the stage of the disease. 4 Common colorectal cancer symptoms include changes in bathroom habits, blood in stool, stomach pain or cramping, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. ryanking999 – Stage 1 colon cancer is curable 90% of the time with just surgery and no other treatment, Rivadeneira said. Stage 2 — when the tumor is larger and has grown through the bowel wall but has not spread to nearby lymph nodes — has a survival rate of 80% to 85%. 'When you go to Stage 3, now it's spread to the lymph nodes, it drops down to the 60% mark,' Rivadeneira said. 'So the sooner the tumors are detected, the higher the cure rate and again, no need for chemotherapy or any additional treatment besides the surgery.'
CNN
3 days ago
- Health
- CNN
As more young people get screened, more colon cancer is being found early. Here's how to lower your risk
Even more colorectal cancer cases are being found in adults under 50, and a new collection of research suggests that a surge in screening may be tied to many of the more recent diagnoses – but not the overall trend. In 2018, the American Cancer Society updated its guidelines for colon and rectal cancer screening, recommending that adults at average risk get screened starting at age 45 – earlier than 50, which was previously advised. Then, in 2021, the US Preventive Services Task force also lowered the recommended age to start screening for colon and rectal cancers from 50 to 45. The shift in screening guidelines is associated with a recent increase in early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses, but it does not explain the rise among younger adults in general – a trend that began in the mid-1990s and includes late-stage cancers, as well. Colorectal cancer refers to colon cancer, which starts in the colon, and rectal cancer, which starts in the rectum. 'The drivers of rising incidence are still unknown, but many research efforts are ongoing, with investigations covering the gamut from microplastics to ultra processed food and many other gut exposures introduced in the last half of the 20th century, when this began,' Elizabeth Schafer, associate scientist of surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society, said in an email. Lowering the screening age 'has likely facilitated earlier detection of cancers that might have been missed,' but there is still more work to do to identify the driving factors behind the ongoing overall rise of colorectal cancer in younger ages, Dr. Joseph Rinaldi, a gastroenterologist at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in an email. 'It is likely that factors beyond screening guidelines are contributing to the overall rise in colorectal cancer incidence,' Rinaldi said. 'Much work remains to identify causal factors – whether environmental, genetic, or population-based – that can be targeted for prevention and, potentially, reversal of this trend.' Now, research conducted by the American Cancer Society that was published Monday in the medical journal JAMA found that the share of US adults ages 45 to 49 who are up to date on colorectal cancer screening climbed from 20.8% in 2019 and 19.7% in 2021 to 33.7% in 2023. 'We've been waiting for screening to take off in this age group,' Schafer, an author on the new screening study, said in the email. 'But the real thrill is the translation to early diagnosis, which means less intense treatment and lives saved.' A second study, also conducted by the American Cancer Society and published Monday in JAMA, found that the prevalence of early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses among adults 45 to 49 increased from 9.4 cases per 100,000 people in 2019 to 11.7 per 100,000 in 2021 and then to 17.5 per 100,000 in 2022. That translates to a 50% relative increase between 2021 and 2022. 'If screening was the cause of the rise, the increase would have been for early- instead of late-stage disease,' said Schafer, lead author of the second paper. 'Local stage diagnosis was rare in this age group before screening because there are usually no symptoms yet,' Schafer said of early-stage cancers that have not spread to other parts of the body. 'So yes, it was a bit shocking, actually, to see early-stage incidence double from 9.4 to 17.5 per 100,000 in this newly screened group.' As a rise in colon and rectal cancers persists among younger adults, public health experts now urge them to know the warning signs and to get screened when eligible. More than half of the people who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer before 50 are not eligible for screening because they haven't yet reached the recommended age of 45. And most people who are eligible have still not been screened, said Jessica Star, associate scientist of cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, who was lead author on the new screening study and an author on the other paper. Whether someone is recommended for screening or not, they should still watch for signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and talk with their doctor if they notice any, she said. In the United States, about 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. The most common symptom is rectal bleeding,' Star said in an email, adding that 41% of patients under 50 tend to experience this symptom, compared with 26% of patients older than 50. Many people also may have abdominal cramping or pain. 'Young people, especially, are reluctant to talk about these types of symptoms, but it could actually save their life,' Star said. 'Other important symptoms include a persistent change in bowel habits or the shape of stool, decreased appetite, and weight loss. People with any of these symptoms that persist for several weeks should be followed up with a doctor's visit,' she said. 'If you are young and your concerns are not being addressed, get a second opinion. There are too many stories about young people being told they have hemorrhoids, finding out months or years later that it is cancer.' When Kelly Spill, 33, experienced symptoms of colorectal cancer after the birth of her first child, she said, her doctors told her that they were tied to being postpartum and internal hemorrhoids. 'One day I went to the bathroom, and I looked down, and you would have thought it was my time of the month, and it most certainly was not. That's when it became extremely alarming,' Spill told CNN in May of the blood in her stool. When she noticed massive amounts of blood again, she took photos and showed them to a primary care physician. The doctor immediately ordered a colonoscopy, and that's what led to her being diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer at age 28 in 2020. 'To self-advocate is such a big one,' Spill said. 'If I didn't push, push, push, I don't know where I would be, and especially as a new mom.' Spill was treated with an immunotherapy drug called dostarlimab and is now a healthy mother of three. She remains cancer-free. Getting screened can help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, because almost all colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. But through screening, these polyps can be identified and removed before they turn cancerous. Current options for colorectal cancer screening for people at average risk include a stool-based fecal test either annually or every three years; a traditional colonoscopy every 10 years; a virtual colonoscopy every five years; or a sigmoidoscopy procedure, which involves using a tube-like instrument called an endoscope to examine the lower part of the colon, every five years. A separate study published Monday in JAMA found that when people newly eligible for screening were automatically mailed a fecal test kit at their home address without asking for it, they were more likely to complete screening than those who were asked to actively choose between a colonoscopy, a fecal test or deferring screening altogether. 'Another important question is how to get more people screened, especially people without access to healthcare, a group that had no significant increase in screening in our study,' Schafer, who was not involved in that study, said in the email. Despite recent increases in screening, it's still estimated that more than 1 in 3 adults 45 and older are not getting screened as recommended, according to the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. There are other steps people can take to help prevent colorectal cancer. 'There are many things people of all ages can do to reduce their risk, including not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, being physically active, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and eating a healthy diet that is low in red and processed meat and high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables,' Star said. More than half of all colorectal cancers in the US are attributable to those modifiable risk factors, according to the American Cancer Society. 'There have been several studies that work to identify factors contributing to the development of colon cancer. Maintaining a physically active lifestyle and a healthy weight is important, as obesity has been linked to early-onset disease,' Rinaldi said. 'I also encourage avoiding tobacco, refined grains, and sugary beverages and instead focus on consuming a fiber-rich diet that is more plant-based and that limits the consumption of red and processed meats, as this is thought to be protective to colon health.'
CNN
3 days ago
- Health
- CNN
As more young people get screened, more colon cancer is being found early. Here's how to lower your risk
Even more colorectal cancer cases are being found in adults under 50, and a new collection of research suggests that a surge in screening may be tied to many of the more recent diagnoses – but not the overall trend. In 2018, the American Cancer Society updated its guidelines for colon and rectal cancer screening, recommending that adults at average risk get screened starting at age 45 – earlier than 50, which was previously advised. Then, in 2021, the US Preventive Services Task force also lowered the recommended age to start screening for colon and rectal cancers from 50 to 45. The shift in screening guidelines is associated with a recent increase in early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses, but it does not explain the rise among younger adults in general – a trend that began in the mid-1990s and includes late-stage cancers, as well. Colorectal cancer refers to colon cancer, which starts in the colon, and rectal cancer, which starts in the rectum. 'The drivers of rising incidence are still unknown, but many research efforts are ongoing, with investigations covering the gamut from microplastics to ultra processed food and many other gut exposures introduced in the last half of the 20th century, when this began,' Elizabeth Schafer, associate scientist of surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society, said in an email. Lowering the screening age 'has likely facilitated earlier detection of cancers that might have been missed,' but there is still more work to do to identify the driving factors behind the ongoing overall rise of colorectal cancer in younger ages, Dr. Joseph Rinaldi, a gastroenterologist at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in an email. 'It is likely that factors beyond screening guidelines are contributing to the overall rise in colorectal cancer incidence,' Rinaldi said. 'Much work remains to identify causal factors – whether environmental, genetic, or population-based – that can be targeted for prevention and, potentially, reversal of this trend.' Now, research conducted by the American Cancer Society that was published Monday in the medical journal JAMA found that the share of US adults ages 45 to 49 who are up to date on colorectal cancer screening climbed from 20.8% in 2019 and 19.7% in 2021 to 33.7% in 2023. 'We've been waiting for screening to take off in this age group,' Schafer, an author on the new screening study, said in the email. 'But the real thrill is the translation to early diagnosis, which means less intense treatment and lives saved.' A second study, also conducted by the American Cancer Society and published Monday in JAMA, found that the prevalence of early-stage colorectal cancer diagnoses among adults 45 to 49 increased from 9.4 cases per 100,000 people in 2019 to 11.7 per 100,000 in 2021 and then to 17.5 per 100,000 in 2022. That translates to a 50% relative increase between 2021 and 2022. 'If screening was the cause of the rise, the increase would have been for early- instead of late-stage disease,' said Schafer, lead author of the second paper. 'Local stage diagnosis was rare in this age group before screening because there are usually no symptoms yet,' Schafer said of early-stage cancers that have not spread to other parts of the body. 'So yes, it was a bit shocking, actually, to see early-stage incidence double from 9.4 to 17.5 per 100,000 in this newly screened group.' As a rise in colon and rectal cancers persists among younger adults, public health experts now urge them to know the warning signs and to get screened when eligible. More than half of the people who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer before 50 are not eligible for screening because they haven't yet reached the recommended age of 45. And most people who are eligible have still not been screened, said Jessica Star, associate scientist of cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, who was lead author on the new screening study and an author on the other paper. Whether someone is recommended for screening or not, they should still watch for signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and talk with their doctor if they notice any, she said. In the United States, about 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. The most common symptom is rectal bleeding,' Star said in an email, adding that 41% of patients under 50 tend to experience this symptom, compared with 26% of patients older than 50. Many people also may have abdominal cramping or pain. 'Young people, especially, are reluctant to talk about these types of symptoms, but it could actually save their life,' Star said. 'Other important symptoms include a persistent change in bowel habits or the shape of stool, decreased appetite, and weight loss. People with any of these symptoms that persist for several weeks should be followed up with a doctor's visit,' she said. 'If you are young and your concerns are not being addressed, get a second opinion. There are too many stories about young people being told they have hemorrhoids, finding out months or years later that it is cancer.' When Kelly Spill, 33, experienced symptoms of colorectal cancer after the birth of her first child, she said, her doctors told her that they were tied to being postpartum and internal hemorrhoids. 'One day I went to the bathroom, and I looked down, and you would have thought it was my time of the month, and it most certainly was not. That's when it became extremely alarming,' Spill told CNN in May of the blood in her stool. When she noticed massive amounts of blood again, she took photos and showed them to a primary care physician. The doctor immediately ordered a colonoscopy, and that's what led to her being diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer at age 28 in 2020. 'To self-advocate is such a big one,' Spill said. 'If I didn't push, push, push, I don't know where I would be, and especially as a new mom.' Spill was treated with an immunotherapy drug called dostarlimab and is now a healthy mother of three. She remains cancer-free. Getting screened can help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, because almost all colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. But through screening, these polyps can be identified and removed before they turn cancerous. Current options for colorectal cancer screening for people at average risk include a stool-based fecal test either annually or every three years; a traditional colonoscopy every 10 years; a virtual colonoscopy every five years; or a sigmoidoscopy procedure, which involves using a tube-like instrument called an endoscope to examine the lower part of the colon, every five years. A separate study published Monday in JAMA found that when people newly eligible for screening were automatically mailed a fecal test kit at their home address without asking for it, they were more likely to complete screening than those who were asked to actively choose between a colonoscopy, a fecal test or deferring screening altogether. 'Another important question is how to get more people screened, especially people without access to healthcare, a group that had no significant increase in screening in our study,' Schafer, who was not involved in that study, said in the email. Despite recent increases in screening, it's still estimated that more than 1 in 3 adults 45 and older are not getting screened as recommended, according to the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. There are other steps people can take to help prevent colorectal cancer. 'There are many things people of all ages can do to reduce their risk, including not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, being physically active, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and eating a healthy diet that is low in red and processed meat and high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables,' Star said. More than half of all colorectal cancers in the US are attributable to those modifiable risk factors, according to the American Cancer Society. 'There have been several studies that work to identify factors contributing to the development of colon cancer. Maintaining a physically active lifestyle and a healthy weight is important, as obesity has been linked to early-onset disease,' Rinaldi said. 'I also encourage avoiding tobacco, refined grains, and sugary beverages and instead focus on consuming a fiber-rich diet that is more plant-based and that limits the consumption of red and processed meats, as this is thought to be protective to colon health.'
Bloomberg
29-07-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
Health Screenings Work. So Why Gut the Panel Behind Them?
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is expected to fire members of the critical US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for being too 'woke,' according to the Wall Street Journal, which was first to report the news. The independent panel of volunteer experts in primary care has significant influence over the practice of medicine and access to care in the US. Dismantling the advisory panel would be a disastrous blow to Americans' health. The group's focus is on the complex science of prevention and constantly evolving evidence-based medicine. That's why already overworked doctors rely on the task force for expert guidance.
