The CDC shares that colorectal cancer affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in people who are 50 years old or older. Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. Screening can find precancerous polyps—abnormal growths in the colon or rectum—that can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening also helps find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment works best. About nine out of every 10 people whose colorectal cancers are found early and treated appropriately are still alive five years later.
Dr. Megan Mendez-Miller wrote a grant to help fund a program to offer free FIT KIT tests to our patients, 50 years old or older and those at high risk due to family history. Medical students, Taylor and Andrea, have been making calls to educate our patients about this non-evasive screening process. If a patient has a positive test result, a full screening will be provided at no cost to our patient, including any subsequent surgical service and follow up care that may be required. We are grateful this opportunity is available to those in our care.
