Logan County Department of Public Health to offer free colon cancer screening kits

[March 19, 2022]  For many Americans, colorectal cancer is an all-too-common reality. This disease is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the United States.

It has been determined that preventive testing has significantly reduced colorectal cancer as survival rates for colorectal cancer closely mirrors those who get tested. The five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer found at the local stage is 90 percent which is good cause for early detection and prevention!

In celebration of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) will be giving away FREE fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) while supplies last. The tests were provided by Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

As the next best option for individuals who resist having a colonoscopy, a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screens for early signs of colon cancer. This test is a quick and easy take home stool sample kit which is very sensitive to detecting any blood found in the stool.

Hidden blood in the stool can be associated with gastrointestinal disease including colon cancer. Any type of rectal bleeding is abnormal and should be evaluated by your physician.

Although a colonoscopy is the best option available to detect colon cancer at an early stage, a FIT test remains a sensible alternative.

For more information, please contact Kara Davis with the Logan County Department of Public Health at 217-735-2317. The department hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:30pm. For more information regarding LCDPH services, you can log onto their website at WWW.LCDPH.ORG.

[Kara A. Davis, RN, BSN
Director of Nursing/Assistant Administrator/HealthWorks Case Manager
Logan County Department of Public Health]