March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month

March is colon cancer awareness month and is a good time to think about getting tested for colon cancer. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and nearly 150,000 men and women are diagnosed with it every year. Testing is important because colon cancer is easily treatable and preventable, and the five-year survival rate is 85-90% if found early enough and treated.

If you are over 50, it is recommended that you get tested regularly to try and catch colon cancer before it starts. Testing should be done every year, with colonoscopies done every ten years. It is not too late if you are over 50 and haven’t been tested before. Finding colon cancer in its early stages could save your life.

Free colon cancer testing kits are available in Burt, Cuming, Madison, and Stanton counties. Locations in Burt County with kits available are Wragge Pharmacy, Tekamah Mercy Medical Clinic, Lyons Public Library, and Oakland Public Library. Call Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department at 402-529-2233 for more information about colon cancer testing