March is colon cancer awareness month

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month according to Sara Hoover, C.F.O. and Accreditation Coordinator of the Nebraska Panhandle Public Health District located in Scottsbluff.

The Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program and Panhandle Public Health District are working together to improve colon cancer screening rates in Nebraska by offering free fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits to Nebraska Panhandle residents.

Colon cancer develops with few, if any symptoms at first. The following symptoms are ones you should look for; blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits, general unexplained stomach discomfort, frequent gas, pains, or indigestion, unexplained weight loss, and chronic fatigue.

“Because people often don’t have any symptoms in the early stages of colon cancer, having regular screening tests beginning at age 50 is the most effective way to reduce your risk of colon cancer,” said Becky Corman, RN for PPHD. “Screening tests find colon cancer early, when treatment works best and the chance for a full recovery is very high.”

An FOBT kit, which can be completed at home and mailed to a laboratory, is a simple screening test that detects hidden blood in the stool.

The results are sent to you and your doctor. If the FOBT kit detects hidden blood in the stool a follow-up colonoscopy will be recommended. The PPHD can assist with planning follow-up care as needed.

Corman added that as soon as you turn 50, you should talk to your medical provider about colon cancer and get screened at regular intervals.

“You may need to be tested earlier or more often than other people if you or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, or if you have inflammatory bowel disease,” explained Corman. “Panhandle residents age 50 or older can contact PPHD today at 1-855-227-2217 for a free FOBT kit, and for more information you can visit http://www.pphd.org.”