Exact Sciences Enlists Carlos Ponce to Promote Early Cancer Screening

Stock.adobe.com

As part of a campaign to promote early colon cancer screening for Hispanic men and women, Exact Sciences has partnered with actor Carlos Ponce.¹ This follows the company’s launch of a Spanish language advertising campaign for cancer screening test Cologuard.

In a press release, Ponce explained, “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. 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.”

In the same press release, Exact Sciences’ vice president of marketing Jeremy Truxal said, “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. 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.”

Dr. Xavier Llor, MD, PhD, gastroenterologist and specialist at Yale Medicine, also said, “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. 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 Science is taking other steps to promote early screenings as well. Earlier this month, the company announced that it would be presenting three abstracts showcasing the development of a multi-cancer early detection test AACR Special Conference in San Diego, California.²

In a press release, Exact Sciences’ chief medical officer and vice president of multi-cancer early detection Tom Beer, MD, said, “Cancer is on pace to be the leading cause of death in the U.S. by 2031. Currently, only an estimated 14% of all cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed through screening, revealing a glaring gap in patient care. We believe MCED testing is our single biggest opportunity to combat these stark statistics, and the Exact Sciences team is committed to taking a rigorous, comprehensive approach to multi-cancer screening. The new data answer key questions about the impact we can anticipate with MCED testing if integrated into clinical practice.”

Sources

1. Exact Sciences Partners with Actor and TV Personality Carlos Ponce to Increase Awareness of Colon Cancer Screening Among Hispanic Community. Exact Science. November 18, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241118162060/en/Exact-Sciences-Partners-with-Actor-and-TV-Personality-Carlos-Ponce-to-Increase-Awareness-of-Colon-Cancer-Screening-Among-Hispanic-Community
2. Exact Sciences Unveils Data Showing Promise of Multi-Cancer Early Detection at AACR Special Conference on Liquid Biopsy. Exact Sciences. November 13, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241113756824/en/Exact-Sciences-Unveils-Data-Showing-Promise-of-Multi-Cancer-Early-Detection-at-AACR-Special-Conference-on-Liquid-Biopsy