To emphasize Renown Institute for Cancer’s commitment to quality cancer care and the importance of getting screened, Renown Health is offering a colorectal cancer home screening kit for only $15 ($5 savings) during the months of March and April. The $15 screening kit, Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), is a home screening for annual colon cancer detection.
Dr. John Gray and Dr. William Pfau created a fun, educational rap video on You Tube to raise awareness of the FIT Test and encourage patients to take the easy, at-home test which only requires “a swish and a flush.”
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the US with more than 100,000 Americans being diagnosed each year. Despite the alarming statistics, if detected early though regular screenings, colorectal cancer is preventable.
Colon cancer has an 85 percent survival rate if caught early. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 lives could be saved each year through regular screenings and exams.
In 2008, the AmericanCollege of Gastroenterology (ACG) published updated guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. ACG recommends either a colonoscopy every 10 years or an annual FIT screening as the preferred test for colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 50. African Americans should begin screenings at age 45. Patients with a family history of colorectal cancer should speak with their doctor about a different screening schedule.
The new ACG guidelines list FIT as a preferred strategy because it has more extensive data than the guaiac-based Hemoccult SENSA test, and because fecal DNA testing is expensive.
Home Screening Kit – This screening detects blood in the stool often caused by cancers and polyps. The FIT Test detects blood more successfully than older and more widely used stool-screening tests.
Key patient benefits of the test include:
- More convenient for patients because it is easy to prepare and complete in the privacy of your own home
- Only one sample required, as opposed to three consecutive samples with the previous guaiac tests
- Higher sensitivity resulting in fewer false readings
- No dietary or medication restrictions required
- No physician referral required
. To order a kit, visit renown.org/FITTest or call 775-982-6830.
About Renown Institute for Cancer
Renown Institute for Cancer offers fully integrated cancer services right here at home allowing patients and their families access to advanced treatment options. With three cancer physicians, patients experience coordinated care, appointments and treatments all at one location. For general inquiries, contact 775-982-6830 or visit www.renown.org.