March 10, 2005

Free Colon Cancer Testing Kits Available To Local Residents

Davenport, IA – Residents of Scott, Cedar, Clinton, and Muscatine Counties are eligible to receive a free colon cancer screening kit from now through March 31, or until supplies last.

Residents 50 years old or older, or those with other factors associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, are encouraged to pick up a testing kit. Kits are provided free of charge by the American Cancer Society, Genesis Health System, Walgreens Drug Store, and Metropolitan Medical Lab. Free kits can be picked up at the following locations:

Walgreens Drug Stores

Bettendorf:  830 Middle Road 3425 Middle Road	Clinton: 806 S. 4th Street 1905 N. 2nd Street	Rock Island:  3100 11th Street 2955 18th Avenue
Davenport:  1704 Brady Street 1720 West Kimberly 1525 East Kimberly 1660 West Locust 4011 East 53rd Street	Moline:   3601 16th Street 555 19th Avenue 4000 Ave of the Cities	East Moline: 301 30th Avenue Muscatine: 1703 Park Avenue
Other Pick-Up Locations
Genesis Cancer Center 1351 West Central Park, Davenport		Genesis Illini Campus 801 Hospital Road, Silvis

      
March is National Colorectal (Colon) Cancer Awareness Month and the according to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 145,290 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2005 and 56,290 will die from the disease.

To Iowans, this means an estimated 1,700 residents will be diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005, with 660 deaths. Both men and women are at risk for colon cancer and more Iowans could be saved if people better understood the risks of the disease and received regular testing.

For more information on colon cancer including risk factors, prevention options, and early detection methods please call the American Cancer Society 24-hours a day, seven days a week at 1.800.ACS.2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Risk Factors

Both men and women are at risk for colon cancer. Personal risk varies, so your doctor can help you make informed decisions about when to begin testing and the most appropriate testing method for you. Factors associated with increased risk for colon cancer include:

• Age – most diagnosed are 50 or older
• Race – African Americans are at greater risk
• Personal or family history of colon cancer
• Personal or family history of intestinal polyps
• Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative or Crohn’s colitis)
• Certain genetic factors (familial adenomatous polyposis, Gardner’s syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, Ashkenazi Jewish descent)
• Smoking or use of other tobacco products
• Physical inactivity
• Diets high in red meat