Cancer survivor, outreach teams advocate for colorectal cancer screenings

This video highlights one man's colorectal cancer diagnosis and how he credits recommended screenings for saving his life.

In 2014, Rick Stubblefield felt like a healthy man and showed no signs of cancer. Despite his good health, Rick was over 50 which is why his wife Tami encouraged him to get his first colonoscopy. The test results were not good, Rick was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. " It definitely was a shock," Rick said. "I wasn't ready for it at all."  

Today Rick is cancer free and he credits that colonoscopy and the subsequent treatment for saving his life. His story is an example of how colorectal cancer can be treated successfully or prevented in 92% of cases. Routine screenings are the most effective way to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. His screening was covered by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBSTN) which also employs outreach teams that actively encourage members to follow recommended screening guidelines.

Despite the success rate for treating colorectal cancer, nearly one third of adults 50 years and older have not been screened. The topic of screenings is the subject of the latest Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health of America Report® series: “The Rise in Chronic Conditions is putting more Americans at Risk for Colorectal Cancer.”

The report points to a lack of awareness in addition to negative attitudes toward testing as significant hurdles to increase testing across key age and high risk groups. Watch this video to see how the Stubblefields are sharing their story of survival that might save another life.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.