In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Blessing Health is providing free, take-home colorectal cancer screening kits to the public at locations in west central Illinois and northeast Missouri. The kits are available beginning Monday, March 2 and while supplies last.
Beginning March 3, kits are available in the following locations:
- Blessing clinics in Golden, Mount Sterling and Hamilton Warsaw, IL; Kahoka, Monroe City and Palmyra, MO.
- Illini Rural Health Clinic, Pittsfield, IL
- Clark County Health Department, Kahoka, MO
- Knox County Health Department, Edina, MO
- Lewis County Health Department, Monticello, MO
- Monroe County Health Department, Paris, MO
- Blessing Resource Center, 420 N. 34th Street, Quincy, between 8 am and 5 pm.
To schedule a pick-up at the Blessing Health Hannibal Cancer Center, contact Lori Winfrey, RN, office manager, by calling 573-231-3810 or email lori.winfrey@blessinghealth.org.
To schedule a pick up at the Blessing Cancer Center, Quincy, contact Diana Seals, RN, community outreach educator, by calling 217-223-8400, ext. 7701, or emailing diana.seals@blessinghealth.org.
About colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., and that is because only about 40% of cases are diagnosed in the earliest stages when survival rates are 90%. In addition, the number of cases are rising sharply among younger adults. By 2030, colorectal cancer is expected to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in people under 50.
There are often no clearly identifiable symptoms of colorectal cancer in its early stage. Identifiable symptoms typically appear once colorectal cancer has spread and the survival rate decreases. This fact makes screening a key action in decreasing the risk for colorectal cancer.