TMH to distribute free colon cancer test kits Aug. 27
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TAYLORVILLE — Free colorectal cancer take-home screening kits will be available at a drive-thru from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 27, at the main entrance of the non- profit hospital at 201 E. Pleasant St.
A short consent form is required to pick up the home screening kit. After complet- ing the kit at home, individuals will mail it back in a provided preaddressed envelope. Individuals will receive a letter notifying them of their results.
People picking up the kits should remain in their vehicles and wear masks. Staff will wear personal protective equipment during the distribution. The kits will be available while supplies last.
Taylorville Memorial Hospital and the Regional Cancer Partnership of Illinois are working together to distribute the kits. The screenings are recommended for individuals 45 years old and older, people who have a history of colorectal polyps or inflammatory bowel disease, a diet that is high in processed food or red meat, smokers and individuals who are obese or have heavy alcohol use.
For people 76 years old and older, the decision to be screened should be based on a person’s preferences, life expectancy, general health and prior screening history.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death among cancers in both men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the fecal immunochemical test is considered the standard for detection of blood in the stool, one of the early signs of colorectal cancer, the test does not replace a colonoscopy.
Regularly scheduled screenings in the form of colonoscopies can prevent cancer from developing if precancerous polyps are detected and removed before they become cancer. Regular screenings can also find cancer in its earliest stages when it can be treated.
Survival rates for colon and rectum can- cer are nearly 90 percent when the cancer is diagnosed before it has extended beyond the intestinal wall, according to “Illinois Facts and Figures,” published by the American Cancer Society.
For more information, call 217-707- 5258.
