Free kits at SWNPHD for colorectal cancer screening

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) will have free fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits available at both their McCook and Imperial offices to screen for Colorectal Cancer.

“For anyone ages 50-75, they can stop at our offices or Quality Healthcare Clinic in Benkelman and get a FOBT kit,” explains SWNPHD Public Health Nurse Crystal Bright, LPN. “Colorectal cancer is nearly preventable and can be easily checked through this at-home kit. Each person will be responsible for mailing their kit in the enclosed envelope to the lab for testing.”

SWNPHD is providing these kits through a grant with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Screening tests are used to look for colorectal cancer when a person doesn’t have any symptoms. The best method of screening for colorectal cancer is to have a colonoscopy.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer of cancers affecting both men and women. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older with more than 90 percent of cases occurring in people age 50 or older.

Risk Factors

• Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

• A family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.

• Obesity, alcohol consumption and tobacco use.

For more information on programs at SWNPHD view the website at www.swhealth.ne.gov. SWNPHD is located at 404 West 10th Street, McCook, and 501 Broadway, Imperial.

Follow on Facebook.com/swnphd and Twitter@swpublichealth. Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins and Red Willow counties.