Good Samaritan Auxiliary promotes colon cancer awareness
Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, April 5, 2017
- St. Marys' Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary members participate in "Dress in Blue Day" for colon cancer awareness on March 3. The Auxiliary will be providing information about colon cancer prevention and early detection throughout March. Pictured are Becky Black, Mary Wise, Chris Gee, Pam Aversa, Zelphia Dunham and Phyllis Buford.
GREENSBORO– March 6, 2017 – March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and Friday, March 3, was “Dress in Blue Day.” Volunteers from St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary participated by wearing their blue jackets and handing out brochures and lapel pins stating “Knock Out Colon Cancer.”
Colorectal Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. It is a disease that affects men and women equally, regardless of age. One out of 10 adults over the age of 50 is affected, according to the Colon Cancer Alliance.
The good news is, if caught early, colon cancer is both preventable and curable. Be proactive. Know the signs and symptoms:
• 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 is not relieved by doing so
• Rectal bleeding
• Blood in the stool, which may make it look dark
• Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Unintended weight loss
Talk to your primary care physician about appropriate screening tests. According to the American Cancer Society, most people can reduce their risk of developing colon cancer by eating a high fiber diet that’s low in fat, sodium and sugar, increasing physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight.
St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital offers a number of services to help people in our area prevent and fight colon cancer, including colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is the gold-standard for screening and early detection, but it’s also an effective tool for prevention because pre-cancerous polyps can be removed as part of the procedure.
During March, hospital volunteers will be handing out information to enhance colon cancer awareness. You can also learn more about colon cancer by visiting the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org.
For more information about St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, visit www.stmarysgoodsam.org.
