St. Luke's Foundation awarded grant for colon cancer screenings

August 26, 2009 
 
For the second consecutive year St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation has received a state grant to help men and women in Linn County obtain colon cancer screenings.

The Iowa Department of Public Health awarded a $96,000 grant to fund St. Luke’s Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness and Screening Project. This project is a collaboration between the Foundation and St. Luke’s Cancer Care.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women and the second leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S. Although recent trends in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality reveal declining rates, more people would survive if a more number of adults received regular colon cancer screenings.

Clinical studies indicate that the primary barriers to colorectal cancer screening are lack of health insurance, lack of physician recommendation, and lack of awareness of the importance of colorectal screening. With this in mind, St. Luke’s CRC Awareness and Screening Project will work with local doctors in the next year, to identify underserved men and women, increase awareness and provide education and screening, as it relates to colorectal cancer.

In general, both men and women at average risk of colorectal cancer should begin screening tests at age 50. Most people with early colon cancer don’t have symptoms. Symptoms usually appear with more advanced disease.


Signs and Symptoms (from the American Cancer Society)

-a change in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days

-a feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that doesn't go away after doing so

-rectal bleeding, dark stools, or blood in the stool (often, though, the stool will look normal)

-cramping or stomach pain

-weakness and tiredness

The grant money St. Luke’s received last year helped 50 individuals in Linn County who would not have been able to afford a colonoscopy otherwise.