Includes colorectal testing kits, Covid19 & other vaccinations on a “drive-through” basis.
A free, open community wellness and cancer prevention event occurs Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Christian Stronghold Church, 4701 Lancaster Avenue.
The tragic death of Chadwick Boseman in August 2020, after a courageous, 4-year battle with colorectal cancer illustrates the importance of early diagnosis of this and other cancer diseases. African Americans are 20 percent more likely to contract colorectal cancer than other ethnicities and are 40 percent more likely to die from it.1
The Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions’ Lazarex Cancer Wellness HUB, along with Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, Main Line Health, and Christian Stronghold Church are sponsoring the event. They seek to increase access to colorectal cancer screenings and to address the decline in cancer screenings during the pandemic.
They will be providing FREE F.I.T. Kits (at-home colorectal cancer screening kits), COVID-19 testing and vaccination, and flu shots. The event will follow COVID-19 guidelines and will encourage social distancing by having participants drive-through and walk-through.
While colorectal cancer is more common in older people, about 12% of these cancers – about 18,000 cases – will be diagnosed annually in people under the age of 50 in the US. Colorectal cancer like other cancers also disproportionately affects the Black community – mostly due to a wide range of socio-economic factors.
“Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the country,” said Durado Brooks, M.D. of the American Cancer Society. “This disease is ravaging the Black community. It is as important as ever that everyone has access to and is receiving the recommended screenings… to prevent the disease or find it at an early, more treatable stage.”
Colorectal Cancer: Screening can help find and even prevent it
With colorectal cancer rates rising among younger people, the American Cancer Society now recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer begin regular screening at age 45. This includes people with a personal and family history of colorectal cancer, certain types of polyps; ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease; or previous abdominal or pelvic radiation.
Screening can often prevent colorectal cancer by finding and removing growths called polyps in the colon and rectum before they have a chance to become cancer. Screening can also find colorectal cancer early, when it is still small, hasn’t spread, and is likely to be easier to treat.
Some colorectal symptoms are changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black; cramping or pain in the belly; feeling tired or weak, or losing weight without trying.
Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions. But if they last for more than a few days or are getting worse, it’s important to have them checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.
For more information: call 215-571-3142
1www.cancer.org/latest-news/colorectal-cancer-rates-higher-in-african-americans-rising-in-younger-people.html
