Santa Barbara, CA – During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara highlights two local programs helping residents of Santa Barbara County detect and prevent colorectal cancer: the Colonoscopy Support Program and LEAP (Lynch Syndrome Education and Assessment Program).
The Colonoscopy Support Program
The Colonoscopy Support Program offers free colonoscopies to at-risk patients at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) through a partnership between SBNC, the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara, Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, and Sansum Clinic Gastroenterology, which is now part of Sutter Health. SBNC patients that receive a positive stool test, indicating they are at risk for colorectal cancer, are eligible for this program. These patients are offered a no-cost colonoscopy, made possible by reduced rates and funding coordination between Sansum Clinic, Cancer Foundation, and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. No application is required; SBNC coordinates patient eligibility and financial support directly.
In 2025, 27 SBNC patients received free colonoscopies through this program, and in 2024, 29 SBNC patients were served. Funding is provided by the Cancer Foundation’s Scott D. Smith Memorial Fund, which was established by Mr. & Mrs. P. Gene Smith in 1999 following Scott’s colon cancer diagnosis at an early age.
Lynch Syndrome Education and Assessment Program (LEAP)
Lynch syndrome is a genetic predisposition to colorectal, uterine, and pancreatic cancers, and is the most common hereditary form of colorectal cancer. Launched seven years ago at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, LEAP was created to identify and assist individuals with Lynch syndrome by expanding access to genetic counseling and screenings and raising community awareness of Lynch syndrome and its risks.
From 2019-2024, LEAP provided counseling and testing for 255 patients with a personal history of colon or uterine cancer and 443 patients with a family history of colon or uterine cancer, leading to the successful identification of individuals with Lynch syndrome or other genetic risk factors. LEAP is funded through the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara by a commitment recommended by Richard V. Gunner, trustee of the Dr. Howard R. Bierman and Anthony Granatelli Fund at the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Colorectal Cancer: The Importance of Early Detection
“Early detection through genetic counseling and cancer screening significantly improves patient survival rates, enables fewer invasive treatments, and can even prevent cancer through proactive measures,” shares Lori Willis, Executive Director of the Cancer Foundation. “Programs like LEAP and the Colonoscopy Support Program make these life-changing services accessible, ensuring that residents of our community have every possible advantage in fighting colorectal cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate is 91% for localized colon cancer and 90% for localized rectal cancer, but if the cancer spreads outside the colon or rectum, those relative survival rates drop to 74%. This is why early detection of colorectal cancer and genetic predispositions for colorectal cancer, like Lynch syndrome, are so important. Catching colorectal cancer early can be lifesaving.
Community members are encouraged to speak with their healthcare providers about colorectal cancer screening and their family history of cancer. To learn more about LEAP, please call the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center Genetic Counseling Department at 805-879-5653.
About the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara:
The Cancer Foundation is an independent nonprofit and the exclusive fundraising partner of the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. The Foundation’s mission is to ensure the availability of superior cancer care and patient support services for all residents of Santa Barbara County. To learn more, visit the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara at www.cfsb.org, or find us on Instagram and Facebook.
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