Press Releases
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins Sponsors Free Screenings
(Baton Rouge) - March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: the type of cancer people are often too embarrassed to talk about. Colorectal cancer, or cancer of the colon or rectum, is the third most common cancer killer in men and women. The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center wants to change that.
During March, staff members from both Mary Bird Perkins and Our Lady of the Lake will be distributing free take-home kits that test for occult, or hidden, blood in the stool. Because colorectal cancer starts with benign polyps that often bleed, the FOBT (fecal occult blood test) checks for the presence of hidden blood. Colorectal cancer usually causes no symptoms in its early stages, making screening vitally important. If you are seeing bright red blood with your bowel movements, you should go directly to your doctor.
The primary risk factor for colorectal cancer is age. More than 90% of cases are diagnosed in individuals older than 50. Fifty is the recommended age to begin colorectal cancer screening, unless there is a family history, in which case you should start earlier. Check with your family doctor for the most appropriate screening option for your age and medical history.
The take-home kit, which must be picked up by the user, is not a substitute for a colonoscopy but is just one form of colorectal cancer screening. The gold standard for colorectal cancer screening is the colonoscopy. Screening Dates:
Wednesday, March 11
Wal-Mart
904 S. Range Avenue
Denham Springs
4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
No appointment required
Saturday, March 21
Lowe's
10303 South Mall Drive
Baton Rouge
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
No appointment required
Friday, March 27
Sam's Club
7685 Airline Hwy
Baton Rouge
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
No appointment required
The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins is the most comprehensive cancer program in the region offering patients the convenience of receiving high-quality, advanced cancer care in one location, close to home. The Cancer Program offers surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and has been accredited by The American College of Surgeons since 1992 – the gold-standard for community-based cancer care. This program is a participant of a prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) Pilot. A successful pilot will lead to the nationwide launch of the NCCCP in 2010. For more information on our cancer program and the NCCCP pilot, please visit www.ololrmc.com or www.marybird.org.
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