February 20, 2007
Free Colon Cancer Testing Kits During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
DAVENPORT, Iowa -- 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 free colon cancer testing kit in the Quad Cities during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
The kits are provided free of charge as long as supplies last by the American Cancer Society, Genesis Health System, Walgreens Drug Stores and Metropolitan Medical Laboratory. Completed kits should be mailed to the Metropolitan Medical Laboratory at Genesis East. Patients will have results mailed to them within four weeks.
March is National Colorectal (colon) Cancer Awareness Month and, according to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 153,760 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2007 and 52,180 will die from the disease.
Both men and women are at risk for colon cancer and more lives could be saved if people better understood the risks of the disease and received regular testing.
Screening and colonsocopy are the most effective ways to prevent colon cancer from developing. Most cases of the disease begin as non-cancerous polyps, which are growths on the lining of the colon and rectum. These polyps can become cancerous.
Removing polyps during a colonoscopy can prevent colorectal cancer from developing. Approximately 90 percent of colorectal cancers and deaths are thought to be preventable.
Because there are often no symptoms to polyps, it is important to be routinely screened.
For more information on colon cancer, including risk factors, prevention options, and early detection methods, please call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
Free kits can be picked up at the following locations from now through March 31, or until supplies last:
Walgreens Drug Stores
Bettendorf: 830 Middle Road, 3425 Middle Road; Clinton: 806 S. 4th St., 1905 N. 2nd St.; Davenport: 1704 Brady St., 1720 West Kimberly; 1525 East Kimberly, 1660 West Locust St., 4011 East 53rd St.; East Moline: 1301 30th Ave.; Moline: 3601 16th St., 555 19th Ave.; 4000 Ave. of the Cities; Milan: 440 West 10th St.; Muscatine:1703 Park Ave; Rock Island: 3100 11th St., 1905 N. 2nd. St.; 2955 18th Ave.
Other Pick-Up Locations
Genesis Cancer Center, 1351 West Central Park, Davenport; Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, 801 Illini Drive, Silvis; Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt, 1118 11th Street, DeWitt; Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, West Campus Information Desks; Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, East Campus Information Desks.
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