Expanding Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening Through the ACT Donation Program

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colon cancer is often described as the “most preventable, yet least prevented, cancer.”¹ Screening can detect it early, when treatment is most effective.^2-4 All adults age 45 and older should be screened for colon cancer, yet many people – especially those with less access to care – do not get screened.^5-7

To help more people take this important step, Exact Sciences established the Access to Cologuard (ACT) Donation Program. Founded in 2021, the ACT Donation Program has provided more than 17,000 donated Cologuard^® test kits to community health centers and clinics that serve patients who may not otherwise have access to screening. Organizations can apply to receive donated kits for patients who are uninsured, underinsured, or facing other obstacles to care.

Westminster Free Clinic in Ventura County, California, offers one example of this impact. Since December 2023, Exact Sciences has donated 900 Cologuard^® kits to this clinic through a partnership with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. To improve completion rates, the clinic extended evening hours to make it easier for patients to visit after work, offered small incentives, and reviewed samples on site before sending them to the laboratory.

The ACT Donation Program does more than provide screening tests. It also helps clinics reach patients, support them through the screening process, and strengthen follow-up care where needed. As a result, Westminster Free Clinic achieved a 74% test completion rate.

Lisa Safaeinili, CEO and Executive Director of Westminster Free Clinic, said, “Providing access to free Cologuard^® colorectal cancer screening kits is a lifesaver for low-income, uninsured families. People can now find out early if they have cancer and a chance to survive. We are grateful for this partnership with Exact Sciences.”

During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and throughout the year, Exact Sciences works with community organizations to expand access to screening and help more people take steps to protect their health.

Meg Fischer, Advocacy and Alliance Relations Director at Exact Sciences, reflected, “I’m incredibly proud to see how the ACT Donation Program has grown and, more importantly, the real impact it is having in communities. Watching clinics use these donated tests to reach patients who might otherwise go unscreened – and seeing strong completion rates like Westminster’s – shows what’s possible when we work together to expand access to care.

References:

1. Itzkowitz SH. Incremental advances in excremental cancer detection tests. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009;101(18):1225-1227.
2. NCI. Genetics of colorectal cancer (PDQ) - health professional version. Updated March 21, 2025. Accessed December 19, 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/hp/colorectal-genetics-pdq#_235_toc
3. CDC. Reducing Risk for Colorectal Cancer. Updated February 26. 2025. Accessed December 19, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/colorectal-cancer/prevention/index.html
4. SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Colorectal Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.htmlhttps://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html
5. Wolf AMD, Fontham ETH, Church TR, et al. Colorectal cancer screening for average‐risk adults: 2018 guidelines update from the American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68(4):250‐281.
6. Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. Screening for colorectal cancer - US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;325(19):1965-1977.
7. American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2023.