Early cancer detection significantly increases survival rates, and Texas Tech Health El Paso is set to make strides in this area following a nearly $5 million grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The funding, awarded in May, aims to enhance two essential cancer prevention programs: the Southwest Coalition for Colorectal Cancer Screening (SuCCCeS) and the Breast Cancer Education, Screening and Navigation Program (BEST).
Dr. Jennifer Molokwu, director of Cancer Prevention and Control in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, leads both programs. She emphasized the importance of early detection during a recent discussion, sharing a success story from her work. “In just one visit, I was able to tell him that he had cancer, but I also told him that he was cured because we were able to remove it during the colonoscopy,” Molokwu said. “It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do. Our goal is to catch cancer early so that patients don’t have to bear the heavy burden of prolonged cancer treatments. Early detection can truly save lives.”
Since 2011, more than 55,500 uninsured or underinsured residents from El Paso and West Texas have benefitted from the SuCCCeS and BEST programs, leading to the detection of 77 breast cancers and 39 colorectal cancers. The areas serviced by these programs often experience high poverty rates, low high school graduation rates, and limited access to health insurance.
Early detection significantly impacts survival rates for both breast and colorectal cancers. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer when detected early is 99%, compared to just 31% in later stages. For colorectal cancer, survival rates drop from 91% in early stages to 15% when diagnosed late.
With the new funding, BEST will receive $2,499,980 to provide screening, education, and navigation services across 33 counties, including 28 rural and 12 border counties, reaching over 3 million people. The program aims to:
- Reach 200,000 individuals
- Deliver 53,000 educational interventions
- Provide 30,000 navigation services
- Complete nearly 5,000 clinical screenings
SuCCCeS will receive $2,499,965 to expand colorectal prevention services across 43 counties, particularly in rural and border regions. The initiative will focus on comprehensive screenings, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring 100% diagnostic follow-up and treatment navigation.
This new round of funding increases Texas Tech Health El Paso’s total CPRIT funding to more than $43.2 million since 2011, highlighting the university’s commitment to cancer prevention in underserved communities.
