Free Screenings Offered During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March
Online Risk Assessment Tool Available at www.coloncancerteam.org
(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, the Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins 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 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.
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 screening should start earlier. Check with your family doctor for the most appropriate screening option for your age and medical history.
Screenings are part of the Cancer Program's Multidisciplinary Colorectal Cancer Team, which is dedicated to colorectal cancer research and the comprehensive delivery of state-of-the-art patient care. The purpose of this team is to address the entire continuum of care for colorectal cancer from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship.
As part of this effort, the Cancer Program has developed a resource specifically for the disease -- www.coloncancerteam.org. The site contains a colorectal cancer risk assessment tool to help determine one's personal risk for colorectal cancer. It also provides information on the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and lists free upcoming screenings, such as those being offered in March as listed below:
Screening Dates (No Appointments Required):
Wednesday, March 17
CB Pennington YMCA
15555 Old Hammond Highway
Baton Rouge
10 am - 2 pm
Saturday, March 20
Lowe's
10303 South Mall Drive
Baton Rouge
10 am - 2 pm
Friday, March 26
Sam's Club
7685 Airline Hwy
Baton Rouge
10 am - 2 pm
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 in the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) pilot.