Health department offers free colorectal cancer screening for those eligible.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and offers a perfect opportunity to talk to your doctor and ask yourself, as well as family and friends, if it is time to be screened for colorectal cancer screening.

While colorectal cancer remains the nation’s second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women, it can be prevented if detected at an early stage. In Michigan this year, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be 4,570 cases of colorectal cancer and 1,640 deaths due to the disease.

“Adults age 50 and older should be regularly screened for colorectal cancer,” said Katie Gundersen, colorectal cancer screening coordinator with District Health Department # 10. “Unfortunately, many people aren’t getting tested because they don’t believe they are at risk or they aren’t aware of the different testing and screening options. The importance of early detection cannot be overstated.”

Colorectal cancer risk increases after age 50. However, if you have a family history of colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps, talk with your doctor about starting testing before age 50. Many cases of colorectal cancer have no symptoms. There are several screening options available including colonoscopy and simple take-home tests. Many health insurance plans cover preventive testing; to find out the details of what colorectal cancer screening is covered, check your plan. For people who are uninsured or underinsured, District Health Department # 10 offers a free colorectal cancer screening program to those that qualify.

District Health Department # 10 offers a free colorectal cancer screening program for men and women between the ages of 50-64 who meet income guidelines. This program is available to those with or without insurance. If you have insurance with a high deductible plan, this program may be able to help. Please call us for more details. For more information, please contact your local District Health Department # 10 office or visit www.dhd10.org.