Free colon cancer screening kits available for Kansans
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Ascension Via Christi’s Cancer Outreach and Risk Assessment program is offering colorectal screening kits at no cost to anyone 45 and older.
Anyone in the state can receive a kit by mail by calling 316-268-5890. Instructions for collecting a stool sample will be provided. The kits will have a return self-addressed envelope provided.
The hospital says those whose stool samples test positive for blood are followed up by a nurse navigator, and if they need and cannot afford a colonoscopy, funding is available through a grant from the Colon Cancer Coalition. If the sample tests negative, the results will be mailed within a few weeks.
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Via Christi oncology nurse navigator Lisa Schmidt says screening is a lifesaver.
“Colorectal cancer screening is one of the most powerful weapons we have against colorectal cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer death for men and women combined,” Schmidt said.
Anyone 45 years or older is recommended to get tested, and the five-year relative survival rate is about 90% when colorectal cancer is found before it has spread, according to the American Cancer Society.
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