2018 Wellness Expo

2018 Wellness Expo LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Page 11 A ccording to the American Cancer Society (ACS), colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women in the United States. It is also reported that one in 22 men and one in 24 women will be diagnosed with CRC within their lifetime and the risk of CRC increases as you age. Although CRC is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, it can be cured if caught early or prevented all together. A colonoscopy can detect colorectal cancer early when it is most likely to be curable or prevented. During the process, some polyps or growths can be found and removed before potentially becoming cancerous. Unfortunately, for various reasons, a high percentage of at-risk people are resistant to the idea of having a colonoscopy. As an option for people ages 50-75 who resist having a colonoscopy, the Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) is now offering fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screenings that test for hidden blood in the stool which can be an early sign of colon cancer. This test is a quick and easy take home stool sample kit which is very sensitive to detecting blood found in the stool. Hidden blood in stool is 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 early-stage colon cancer, a FIT test provides the next best alternative. The LCDPH can bill private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare for the cost to test. There will be no additional cost to the public if the kit is returned to the department along with a sample. If the kit is not returned, there will be a $10.00 fee. For more information, please contact Kara Davis with the Logan County Department of Public Health at 217- 735-2317. The current department hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. For more information regarding LCDPH services, you can visit their website at WWW.LCDPH. ORG. [Logan County Department of Public Health/LDN] Information Source: ACS, CDC FIT test can help detect colon cancer