CentraState Offering Colorectal Cancer Screenings

CentraState Healthcare System is offering a special event on Monday that will not only inform local residents about an important health concern but also provide an opportunity to be checked by doctors at the hospital.

Board-certified colorectal surgeon Thomas Kayal will be holding a physician lecture and colorectal cancer screenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Star and Barry Tobias Health Awareness center located at 901 West Main Street. The screenings cost $10 and an appointment is required due to a limited number of spots available.

The screening will consist of a rectal exam and occult blood check. Participants are asked to not eat red meat three days prior to the screening and limit eating vegetables like cauliflower, beets, apples, carrots and cantaloupes as well as turnips, horseradish, radishes and broccoli. Two days prior participants must limit their Vitamin C to no more than 250mg per day.

A statement from the hospital said “Colorectal cancer is preventable when detected early, yet it remains a leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.” It continued, “Forty percent of those who should get screened don’t - often because of fear or embarrassment.