Colorectal Cancer Screening

Test anxiety is real – at school, work and especially at a clinic or hospital. 

During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital wants to put community members at ease by giving away at-home screening tests while highlighting that colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States when cases for men and women are combined, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Individuals 45 or older or those with an immediate family member diagnosed with colon cancer are eligible to pick up a FIT kit at-home screening test with instructions on Wednesdays during March from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the outpatient registration desk at HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital, 201 S. Pine St., Shelbyville, while supplies last. Samples must be returned by March 28. Please note this screening test does not take the place of a colonoscopy.

This simple, easy test saves lives. Early detection is key to successful treatment of colorectal cancer, with nearly 90% of patients diagnosed at an early stage experiencing a five-year survival rate, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While colorectal cancer rates overall are on the downswing, younger generations should pay attention – diagnoses in people under age 50 increased by nearly 2.5% each year during the 10-year span from 2012 to 2021, according to the ACS.

For more information regarding this colorectal cancer screening event, contact Tammy Probst at 217-347-3563