Palm Beach Health Network Hospitals encourage the community to get timely screenings for early detection and treatment of colon cancer

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fl. - Every year the month of March is recognized as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It’s your annual reminder that screenings for colorectal cancer can be lifesaving.

Colon cancer is leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. for people under 50 according to the American Cancer Society. During the pandemic, many put off their annual screenings. It’s not too late to get back on track.

The Palm Beach Health Network is offering a series of free events and free colon cancer screening kits:

• March 12th from 11am to 2pm at Good Samaritan Medical Center, enjoy an interactive tour of a walkthrough colon model, speaking with our doctors to learn more about the signs and symptoms of colon cancer.
  
• March 13th from 12pm to 2pm at Delray Medical Center, enjoy an interactive tour of a walkthrough colon model, speaking with our doctors to learn more about the signs and symptoms of colon cancer. Colorectal surgeon Dr. Leandro Feo will be speaking at noon.
  
• March 25th at 10am, at South County Civic Center, Bariatric Dietitian Samantha Barone is speaking about Anti-Aging and Nutrition for National Nutrition Month.
  
• March 26th from 8am to 10am, at Delray Medical Center, free heart screening, checking blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, body mass index and stroke risk assessment for National Diabetes Day.
  
• March 26th from 2pm to 3pm, at the South County Civic Center, Dr. Feo is speaking about colorectal cancer.
  
• March 28th at 11am, at Delray Medical Center the Mended Hearts Support Group (meetings are the fourth Thursday of every month).
  
• April 3rd at 3pm, at South County Civic Center, Joseph Gerasci, Dir. Of Risk Management and Patient Safety Officer, speaking on Navigating Healthcare: Advanced Directives, Living Wills, Trusts.
  
• We offer free colorectal cancer screening kits at several of our Palm Beach Health Network Hospitals: Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Delray Medical Center, and West Boca Medical Center.

More on colorectal cancer:

Nearly all colorectal cancers start with a polyp, which is small area of unchecked growths on the inner lining of the colon. Polyps and colon cancers rarely create symptoms such as pain or bleeding. Early detection and treatment, even before symptoms appear, can lead to an improved survival rate.

It’s important to find cancers early or find them as polyps and have them removed, he said. The incidence of colon cancer is increasing among younger people, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that screenings begin at age 45.

The risk of developing colon polyps and cancer increases as one ages. The majority of colon cancer is found in patients without any symptoms or a family history of colon cancer. We all need a colonoscopy starting at 45 years old unless you have a first-degree relative with colon cancer or polyps, where one should consider being tested earlier than age 45.

If you think you are at increased risk for colorectal cancer, speak with your doctor about when to begin screening, which test is right for you and how often to get tested.

To find a colorectal surgeon in your area, click here.