Health department plans to offer colon cancer walk-in screening clinics

Colorectal cancer, CRC, is the second deadliest type of cancer in the United States. 

 In Illinois, 17 people are diagnosed with the disease every day.  

In the United States, there are three “Hotspots” for CRC. Seven Southern Illinois counties are located inside a Hotspot and the number of cases is growing.

In response to the concerns, Southern Seven Health Department plans to host seven walk-in fecal immunochemical test (FIT) clinics in November and December.

The clinics are for anyone age 50 who hasn’t had a colonoscopy in the last 10 years.  

The health department explained that the highly sensitive, take-home test detects blood in the stool, which may indicate possible colon cancer, with a 99 percent accuracy rate.  It’s non-invasive and requires no prep by the patient.  

FIT does not replace a colonoscopy; it is an option for colorectal cancer screening, the health department advised.    

FIT is not a cancer preventive, cure or treatment for colon cancer.  

The schedule for the clinics includes:

Dec. 2. Health department clinic in Anna.

Nov. 14. Health department clinic in Massac County.

Nov. 18. Health department clinic in Cairo.

Nov. 19. Health department clinic in Ullin.

Dec. 3. Health department clinic in Vienna.

Dec. 4. Health department clinic in Elizabethtown. Health department clinic in Golconda.

Each walk-in clinic is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

With qualified insurance, the test is available at no charge to the patient if returned to Southern Seven Health Department within two weeks.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 50.  

If colon cancer is found early, nine out of 10 people will have a long-term survival and can be cured from the disease.  

Health officials note that about 40 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are found in late stages, when the survival rate is very low.  

As a result, Southern Seven Health Department recommends early and continued screenings as part of a person’s overall health care routine.

To learn more about the fecal immunochemical test contact Southern Seven Health Department at 618-634-2297.