Health department offering free colorectal cancer screenings

Thanks to grant funding, the Tuscarawas County Health Department is offering free colorectal cancer screenings during March for adults 45 and older who do not have active symptoms of colorectal cancer and do not have a family history of the disease in a parent or sibling.

Free screenings will be available by appointment or walk-in at the following times:

Mondays, March 16 and 23: 9 a.m. to noon

Wednesdays, March 18 and 25: 2-6 p.m.

To schedule an appointment or ask questions, call 330-343-5555, ext. 1810. Fasting is not required. Patients should bring a current ID card to verify age.

Each screening uses the FDA-approved Shield by Guardant colorectal cancer blood test, with results expected in about two weeks. According to the health department, Shield is the first FDA-approved blood test that can be used as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer in adults 45 and older who are at average risk.

Often called colon cancer, colorectal cancer is among the most frequently diagnosed cancers in Tuscarawas County residents.

“This simple blood test is an excellent option for adults over 45 who do not have colon cancer symptoms or a direct family history,” Amber Dunlap-Ott, a certified nurse practitioner at the Tuscarawas County Health Department, said. “Symptoms of colon cancer can include changes in bowel habits, blood in your stool, abdominal pain that doesn’t go away, and unexplained weight loss. When colon cancer is detected early, the chances for successful treatment are greatly increased. If a person’s CRC screening test result is positive, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have colon cancer. In those cases, our medical office staff will call the patient and recommend a colonoscopy.”

Screening results will be shared with each patient’s regular medical provider, allowing those who already have a doctor to follow up with their own physician or another medical provider.