March 5, 2023

Community Hospital in partnership with CHI Health Good Samaritan, in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, has joined forces to provide the community with free colorectal cancer screening test kits in March. Men and women ages 45 or older and those with increased risk are encouraged to contact Community Hospital Outreach Coordinator, Baleigh Abbott, at 308-344-8550 or babbott@chmccook.org to request a free test kit. Kits must be requested by March 31.

Participants will be mailed a home fecal occult blood test, with directions, that requires three consecutive stool samples. Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska will then analyze completed tests for microscopic signs of blood and inform participants and their primary care physicians of the results.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cancer killer in the US, but it doesn’t have to be. If everyone age 45 or older had regular screening tests, at least 60 percent of these deaths could be avoided.

Colorectal cancer screening is an important part of early detection. Many people have no symptoms of colorectal cancer, which is why routine screenings are so important. Screening tests can find colorectal growths, or polyps, so they can be removed before they become cancerous.

It is recommended men and women age 45 and older complete an at-home fecal occult blood test every year. A flexible sigmoidoscopy is recommended every 5 years and a colonoscopy every 10 years.

People who are in good health with life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through the age of 75. People ages 76 through 85 should make a decision with their medical provider about whether to be screened, based on their overall health and prior screening history. People over 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening.