November 18, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Time

Exact Sciences Partners with Actor and TV Personality Carlos Ponce to Increase Awareness of Colon Cancer Screening Among Hispanic Community

Colon cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death among both Hispanic men and women, underscoring the urgent need for early screening¹

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exact Sciences, a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, is proud to announce a new partnership with award-winning Hispanic actor, TV personality and philanthropist Carlos Ponce, as part of its efforts to increase awareness of colorectal cancer – also known as colon cancer – and the importance of screening within the Hispanic community. The company recently launched a Spanish-language advertising campaign.

“As Latinos, sometimes we don’t like to talk about health topics – partially because we want to be strong, proud, and not worry or burden our families – and I think this is particularly the case for us as Latino men”

Ponce is passionate about using his platform for cancer awareness – especially as it relates to different types of cancers that are significantly impacting the Hispanic community, like colon cancer. “As Latinos, sometimes we don’t like to talk about health topics – partially because we want to be strong, proud, and not worry or burden our families – and I think this is particularly the case for us as Latino men,” said the award-winning Hispanic actor, Ponce. “I’ve learned over the past few years that it’s our responsibility to talk about health issues with our loved ones. Knowledge is power, and knowing about available testing options for colon cancer is one of the best ways to make sure we’re present in our families’ lives—now and in the future.”

If caught in the early stages, colon cancer is treatable in about 90% of people*, and yet it remains a critical health issue within the Hispanic community.¹ Despite recommendations from the American Cancer Society that all adults of average risk who are 45+ should get screened for colon cancer, less than half (49%) of eligible Hispanic adults undergo recommended screening.^3,1 Those rates are even lower among Hispanic adults ages 45-49.¹

“The most concerning fact about colorectal cancer in the Hispanic community is the increase in cases among people under 50 years of age; the Hispanic community has a higher percentage of cases among this younger population than non-Hispanic whites.” said Dr. Xavier Llor, MD, PhD, gastroenterologist and specialist at Yale Medicine. “While preventable, colorectal cancer remains one of the least prevented forms of cancer. Early screening and prevention efforts are crucial and have the potential to impact outcomes. Screening should begin at age 45 if there is no close family history of this cancer.”

Exact Sciences’ partnership with Ponce will help raise awareness among Hispanic adults about the importance of early detection through regular colon cancer screening, with the Cologuard^® test as a safe, effective testing option that people can do in the comfort and privacy of their own home, with no special prep and without missing a day of work. The partnership will share educational content in English and Spanish, as well as personal stories, and will complement Exact Sciences’ first Spanish advertisement, which debuted in September.

“Our partnership with Carlos Ponce reflects our commitment to help bridge the gap in colon cancer screening, especially in communities where tailored education and resources are needed,” said Jeremy Truxal, vice president of marketing at Exact Sciences. “Through this partnership, we aim to reach more individuals with crucial information about the benefits of early detection to help make a difference in health outcomes in the Hispanic community.”

By promoting awareness and providing Spanish educational resources, including a Spanish-language website, Exact Sciences and Ponce hope to increase screening rates and ultimately improve colon cancer survival rates for the Hispanic community.

Adults aged 45 or older at average risk for colorectal cancer can ask their doctor if Cologuard is right for them. Learn more or request a kit at Cologuard.com.

About Exact Sciences Corp.

A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences gives patients and health care professionals the clarity needed to take life-changing action earlier. Building on the success of the Cologuard^® and Oncotype^® tests, Exact Sciences is investing in its pipeline to develop innovative solutions for use before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis. For more information, visit ExactSciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on X (formerly known as Twitter) @ExactSciences, or find Exact Sciences on LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Cologuard^®

The Cologuard test is intended to screen adults 45 years of age and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer by detecting certain DNA markers and blood in the stool. Do not use if you have had adenomas, have inflammatory bowel disease and certain hereditary syndromes, or a personal or family history of colorectal cancer. A Cologuard test is not a replacement for colonoscopy in high-risk patients. Cologuard test performance in adults ages 45-49 is estimated based on a large clinical study of patients 50 and older.

The Cologuard test result should be interpreted with caution. A positive test result does not confirm the presence of cancer. Patients with a positive test result should be referred for colonoscopy. A negative test result does not confirm the absence of cancer. Patients with a negative test result should discuss with their doctor when they need to be tested again. False positives and false negative results can occur. In a clinical study, 13% of people without cancer received a positive result (false positive) and 8% of people with cancer received a negative result (false negative). Rx only.

* Based on 5-year survival

References

American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latino People 2021-2023. 2023
Colon Cancer Coalition. Get the Facts About Colon Cancer. 2024.
American Cancer Society. Colorectal cancer screening for average-risk adults: 2018 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. 2018.

Exact Sciences and Cologuard are registered trademarks of Exact Sciences Corporation. Oncotype is a registered trademark of Genomic Health, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exact Sciences Corporation. All third-party marks are the property of their respective owners.