SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – In recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Regional West Community Health, in partnership with the Scotts Bluff County Health Department, is giving away free colon cancer screening kits throughout the month of March.

The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) kits are available at no cost to Nebraska residents ages 50 to 74.  Those who receive the kits are required to have a health care provider.

“Finding cancer early, when it's small and hasn't spread, often allows for more treatment options,” said internal medicine physician A. J. Magana, MD. “A colonoscopy is the best screening test available for colorectal cancer and should be done at age 50. During the years in between recommended colonoscopy exams, the fecal occult blood test is a good option.”

Fecal occult screening can reveal the presence of microscopic or invisible blood in the stool, or feces. The blood can be a sign of a problem in the digestive system, such as a growth, polyp, or cancer in the colon or rectum. Early detection may prevent polyps from becoming cancerous and may jumpstart early treatment, when it is most effective. When it is found early and treated, the five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 85 to 90 percent.

“Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States,” said Deb Keener, RN, Regional West Community Health nurse. “That’s a scary statistic and it’s one of the reasons why we are offering free colon cancer screening kits during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.”

The screening test is performed in the privacy of one’s own home. By following instructions included in the kits, individuals obtain a stool sample and then return the sample to the lab where it is checked for blood.

“Getting a colorectal cancer screening test could save your life,” said Keener. “Our goal is to provide a free fecal occult blood test to as many people as possible during the month of March.”

Enrollment forms for FOBT home testing kits and information about colorectal cancer are available by contacting Keener at 308-630-1580 or by calling 308-436-6636.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.