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, and by mail. The kits are available from Monday, March 18 and while supplies last.
Of the more than 153,000 people who are expected to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, only about 40% will be diagnosed in the earliest stage, when the survival rate is 90%. That is because there often are no clearly identifiable symptoms of the disease in its early stage. Identifiable symptoms typically appear once colorectal cancer has spread and the survival rate decreases. That fact makes screening a key action in decreasing the risk for colorectal cancer.
Beginning March 18 and while supplies last, kits are available in the following locations:
- Blessing Resource Center, 420 N. 34th Street, Quincy
- Illini Rural Health Clinic, Pittsfield
- Blessing Health Hannibal
- Blessing clinics in Golden, Mount Sterling and Hamilton Warsaw, IL; Bowling Green, Kahoka, Monroe City and Palmyra, MO.
- Clark County Health Department, Kahoka, MO
- Knox County Health Department, Edina, MO
- Lewis County Health Department, Monticello, MO
- Monroe County Health Department, Paris, MO
- Kits can be picked up at the Blessing Cancer Center by appointment. Call 217-223-8400, ext. 7718 or email stephanie.willey@blessinghealth.org
The free, take-home colorectal cancer screening kits are also available by mail. Go to blessinghealth.org/colonmonth for more information on that option, as well as a list of kit pick-up locations and related information regarding colorectal cancer care.