COLORECTAL CANCER TEST KITS AVAILABLE

5/6/24

The Illinois Department of Public Health is urging Illinoisans to learn more about colorectal cancer and the need for regular screenings.

Lyn Waller with the Clay County Health Department says that the health department has Colon Cancer Test Kits available for people who would like to use them.  Test kits are free and need to be turned back into the health department for testing.  Results are generally given by the next business day.  For more information call the Clay County Health Department at 618-662-4406.

Colorectal cancer has a five-year survival rate of around 90% when detected early, but that survival rate falls to just 10% when the cancer is not detected in a timely fashion and spreads to other parts of the body.  Regular screenings can spot early warning signs and also allow for cancer to be spotted in its earliest stages, when treatment has the best chance of success.