Passavant Area Hospital and the Mia Ware Foundation are again partnering to bring prevention and awareness for colorectal cancer with a screening kit pick up and Community Health Event later this month.

The free kits will be available Wednesday, March 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Thursday, March 29, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the circle drive at the main entrance to Passavant, 1600 W. Walnut. Individuals should simply drive up, fill out a short questionnaire, talk to a nurse, and then complete the kit at home. The kit is then returned via a postage-paid envelope, with test results sent by mail in three to four weeks.

The screening kits require only one stool sample. The kits use the fecal immunochemical test screening method for hemoglobin in the stool. The test is considered the standard for early detection of blood in the stool, one of the early warning signs of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., but if detected early, 90 percent of those deaths are preventable.  

In addition to the free screening kits, Passavant is presenting a Community Health Event, “Colorectal Cancer: Screening Saves Lives, at noon, March 28, in Meeting Rooms 2 and 3. Abigail White, MD, general surgeon, Springfield Clinic-Jacksonville, will discuss the importance of colorectal cancer screenings in those 50 and older, what happens when you have a positive test, what happens during a colonoscopy, the risks of developing colon cancer and how to improve colon health. She will be available for questions following the presentation.

A complimentary lunch is included. Call 479-5800 to register.