Southern 7 Health Offers Colon Cancer Screenings
By WestKyStar Staff
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest type of cancer in the U.S. In Illinois, 17 people are diagnosed with the disease every day.
In the U.S. there are three “Hotspots” for the disease. All seven southern Illinois counties are located inside a Hotspot and the number of cases is growing.
In response, Southern 7 Health Department will host several walk-in clinics in November and December for anyone age 50 who hasn’t had a colonoscopy in the last 10 years. This highly sensitive Fecal Immunochemical take-home test detects blood in the stool, which may indicate possible colon cancer with a 99% accuracy rate.
It’s non-invasive and requires no prep by the patient. This does not replace a colonoscopy; it is an option for colorectal cancer screening. FIT is not a cancer preventative, cure or treatment for colon cancer.
FIT Clinics will be held on a walk-in basis from 11 am – 1 pm at these locations:
12/2 – Union County Health Department in Anna
12/3 – Johnson County Health Department in Vienna
12/4 – Hardin County Health Department in Elizabethtown
12/4 – Pope County Health Department in Golconda
With qualified insurance the test is available at no charge to the patient if returned to Southern 7 Health Department within two weeks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 50. If colon cancer is found early, nine out of 10 people will have a long-term survival and can be cured from the disease. Unfortunately, about 40 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are found in late stages when the survival rate is very low. As a result, Southern 7 recommends early and continued screenings as part of your overall healthcare routine.
To learn more about the Fecal Immunochemical Test, contact Southern 7 Health Department at 618-634-2297.