Free at-home colon cancer screening kits will be available in Taylorville this week as part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
The drive-thru distribution event will take place Thursday, March 12th, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, located at 201 East Pleasant Street.
The effort is sponsored by the Regional Cancer Partnership, which includes Memorial Health, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield Clinic and HSHS St. John's Hospital.
Tia Rapps, community cancer education coordinator for the Regional Cancer Center, says March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and encourages residents to take advantage of the free opportunity. She says screening is one of the simplest ways to protect your health and notes that completing the test at home could truly save your life. Early detection, she says, makes all the difference.
Drivers are asked to follow posted signs and remain in their vehicles. Kits are available while supplies last.
Completed tests should be mailed back within 10 days using the postage-paid envelope included in the kit. Participants will receive their results by mail.
Take-home colorectal cancer screenings are recommended for adults 45 and older, as well as younger individuals with risk factors such as a history of colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol use, or diets high in processed or red meats. Anyone 18 or older is eligible to receive a kit.
For more information about the Taylorville distribution, you can call 217-707-5258.
