Test for Life 2013 - Acadiana's Multi-Media News Station

Test for Life 2013

Pick up your free test kit at any of the following Walgreens locations:

KLFY AND WALGREENS PHARMACY ARE GIVING OUT FREE TEST KITS FOR COLON CANCER AWARENESS

• WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO GET ONE AND THEN GET TEST RESULTS?

The test kit is used to detect microscopic amounts of blood in the stool.  This finding is never normal and can indicate a polyp or lesion in the colon that is growing and causing bleeding.  The test is easy to do – instructions are on the package and there is an 800 number to call if you need assistance.  It is as simple as dropping a reactant into the toilet after a bowel movement that changes color if blood is detected.  This is done on 3 different days as some bleeding from polyps or growths will occur intermittently.  You fill out the test card as directed and mail it to us in the prepaid envelope.  LGEC staff will analyze your test and send you a letter with your results and suggested follow-up.

• WHERE CAN THESE FREE TEST KITS BE PICKED UP?

The distribution sites are all Walgreens Pharmacy locations in the Acadiana area..

• WHAT ABOUT THE FREE COLONOSCOPY?

 LGEC will be giving away 3 colonoscopies.  To be eligible, you must be 50 years of age or 45 for African Americans or 40 years old with a family history of colon cancer in 1^st degree relative before age 60 and you never have had a colonoscopy before.  You can register for the free colonoscopy – again at all Acadiana area Walgreens Pharmacy locations

• WHO IS AT RISK FOR COLON CANCER?

90% OF NEW COLON CANCER CASES ARE FOUND IN PATIENTS AGE 50 OR OLDER, WHICH IS WHY WE RECOMMEND A SCREENING COLONOSCOPY AT AGE 50 FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION WITH AVERAGE RISK. STARTING AT AGE 45 IS RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATIN DESCENT AS THESE GROUPS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO DEVELOP COLON CANCER AT AN EARLIER AGE.  ANYONE WITH AN EXISTING DISEASE OF THE COLON – SUCH AS ULCERATIVE COLITIS OR CROHN'S DISEASE HAVE AN INCREASED RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER AND SHOULD BE SCREENED AT AN EARLIER AGE AS WELL AS THOSE WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER IN A 1^ST DEGREE RELATIVE (PARENT, SIBLING, CHILD) DIAGNOSED BEFORE AGE 60.

• WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT COLON CANCER?

STUDIES HAVE SUGGESTED A HIGH FIBER, LOW FAT DIET; MODERATE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, NO USE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND MODERATE EXERCISE HELPS DECREASE RISK.  ALSO, ADDING VITAMIN D, FOLIC ACID, CALCIUM AND A LOW DOSE ASPIRIN DAILY MAY PROVIDE SOME ADDED PROTECTION AGAINST THE FORMATION OF POLYPS, BUT EVERYONE SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING ANY TYPE OF MEDICATION OR SUPPLEMENT.

OF COURSE THE #1 WAY TO PREVENT COLON CANCER IS TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES FOR SCREENING COLONOSCOPY –THE ONLY WAY TO BOTH DETECT AND REMOVE POLYPS, WHICH ARE THE ORIGIN OF ALMOST ALL CASES OF COLON CANCER.

A PERSON NEEDS TO HAVE A HIGH QUALITY, HIGH-DEFINITION SCREENING COLONOSCOPY BY AN EXPERIENCED ENDOSCOPIST.  IF THIS SCREENING IS NEGATIVE, A REPEAT PROCEDURE IS NOT NEEDED FOR 7 – 10 YEARS.  IF POLYPS OR GROWTHS ARE FOUND, REPEAT SCREENING INTERVALS WOULD DEPEND ON PATHOLOGY OF THE REMOVED TISSUE.

 Please click here to visit the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy