Feb. 23 , 2009

CONTACT:
Communications Department
(320) 251-2700, ext. 74980

Coborn Cancer Center offers free drive-through colon cancer screenings
during March

ST. CLOUD, Minn. –March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. To help promote colon cancer awareness, the Coborn Cancer Center in collaboration with the Hind Site Alliance, Minnesota Cancer Alliance, CentraCare Laboratory Services, CentraCare Digestive Center and CentraCare Pharmacy, is offering a free screening for colorectal cancer.

Free immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) screening kits will be available at the
St. Cloud Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy, which has drive through accessibility, or the
Coborn Cancer Center at CentraCare Health Plaza. No diet restrictions are necessary with these new and improved screening kits. There is a one kit per person limit with a signed consent form. Consent forms are available online at www.centracare.com or at either pick up location. Screening kits are only available during the month of March or until supplies last.

The screening kits require three stool samples which can be collected at home; instructions are included with each kit. Completed kits must be returned within 10 days of completion via mail in the prepaid, self addressed return envelope to CentraCare Laboratory Services. Any kits received after April 30, 2009 will not be processed. CentraCare Laboratory Services will process the kits and forward the results to the Coborn Cancer Center. The Coborn Cancer Center will mail the results to you and your primary care provider. Names of those who return their completed kits will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card from Coborn’s grocery store.

The kit, with processing fee, is valued at $34. This test does not replace a colonoscopy which is the best method to detect colorectal cancer. To schedule your colonoscopy, please call CentraCare Digestive Center at (320) 229-4916.

According to the American Cancer Society statistics from 2006, more Minnesotans die of colon and rectum cancer than either breast or prostate cancer. Only lung cancer kills more people. Screening tests offer a powerful opportunity for the prevention, early detection and successful treatment of this disease, but less than two-thirds of Minnesotans ages 50 and older report being screened as recommended.

Learn more about Coborn Cancer Center

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