March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the team at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center wants veterans to understand the importance of regular screenings and their role in preventing the disease.
“We want to promote healthy living that can decrease a person’s risk of developing preventable conditions, including the importance of screening for colorectal cancer,” said Ashley Aubuchon, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Program manager at the medical center, in a press release from the VA.
To help veterans better understand the screening process, and to assess whether they may be due for one, a special walk-in event will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Poplar Bluff facility’s main lobby on March 20.
“For those who stop by, we can get them a testing kit so they can get it completed that day,” said Aubuchon. “If that’s not something they want to do, we can at least give them recommendations.”
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, Aubuchon noted, behind only lung cancer. The biggest risk factors are older age, family history of the disease, excessive alcohol use, obesity, smoking, and diet.
Every year, VA diagnoses 4,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in veterans; however, statistics show up to one-third of U.S. adults who are eligible for such screening don’t get screened, Aubuchon said, even though the process is easier than ever before.
“VA has taken a FIT-first strategy, meaning veterans aged 45 through 75, who are at average risk, should be completing the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) each year,” she said. “The test is so easy to do. It comes with instructions and pictures … everything you need to do it in the convenience of your home.”
Completed tests, she said, can be mailed or dropped off at the medical center laboratory.
The fecal immunochemical test looks for blood in the stool, which can be an early indicator of an issue. Therefore, such regular screenings are important to catching potential problems early. “A lot of early signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer can go unnoticed until it’s too late. So, just by doing this preventative screening at your home, at your convenience, you have the knowledge you need to either detect it or prevent it,” Aubuchon advised.
If abnormal findings are present, she said, the veteran’s primary care provider will schedule further tests and work with specialists to develop a treatment plan, if needed.
Those unable to attend the event on March 20, Aubuchon said, are encouraged to contact their primary care provider to talk about screening options.
“Remember, it’s really important to get screened since colorectal cancer is very common and, unfortunately, the symptoms in the early stages don’t really present well. Then it becomes much more difficult to treat. So, if you’re on the fence about getting screened, you should understand the test is super easy, it’s non-invasive, and can be done in the convenience of your own home,” she said.
For more information about this and other programs and services available at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, call 573-686-4151 or visit www.va.gov/poplar-bluff-health-care/.