Monthly Health Observances

March is:

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
The goal of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is to increase awareness that colorectal cancer is largely preventable, treatable and beatable.

Drive-Thru Colon Cancer Screening Pick up a free immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) colon cancer screening kit. The kits are available at the drive-up window at CentraCare Pharmacy at St. Cloud Hospital and at the Coborn Cancer Center. Simply follow the instructions and mail back by April 30.

National Eye Donor Month
St. Cloud Hospital supports gifts of life and sight through its donation program. As a part of National Eye Donor Month in March, the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank presented St. Cloud Hosptial with a certificate recognizing its staff for referrals leading to 627 eye donors. The generosity of the donors and their family members resulted in restoring eyesight to individuals through 878 cornea transplants. Additionally, 314 corneas or whole eyes were devoted to medical research and education.

Eye donation helps to restore sight and renew life by returning people to productive and active lives. Almost anyone can be an eye donor. Poor vision, most cancers, other medical conditions or age may not prevent donation. Through research, professionals learn more about diseases like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, and develop treatments and cures.

Visit the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank site to learn more about eye donation or register to be a donor

Brain Injury Awareness Month
During March, the Brain Injury Association of America is focusing efforts on educating the public with the message: "A concussion is a brain injury. Get the facts." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the U.S. each year.

Visit our health library to learn more about concussion
Download a guide from the Brain Injury Association: Sports and Concussions