Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC to Hold Free Colorectal Cancer Screening
Early Bird Mobile Medical Clinic Coming to Houma
(Houma, LA)-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. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC is working to change that.
There will be a free colon cancer screening on Thursday, March 25, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Cannata's Eastside, 1977 Prospect Blvd., Houma. Staff members from both TGMC and Mary Bird Perkins will be distributing free take-home kits that test for blood in the stool. Because colorectal cancer starts with benign polyps that often bleed, the FIT (Fecal Immunochemical 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 percent 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.
No appointments are necessary for this free screening. For more information please call 1-888-616-4687.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC is nationally accredited with commendation for excellence in cancer care by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) - the gold standard for community-based cancer care. The multidisciplinary cancer program offers immediate access to a wealth of technology and clinical expertise for the Houma community and the greater Bayou region.
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