To further the awareness and promote the importance of early detection, the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Macomb is providing free at-home colorectal cancer screening kits in June.
Between June 3 and June 14, members of the community can register for the free kit by calling (586) 493-7510 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Registration for a screening kit is required.
“All regular cancer screenings are designed to catch the cancer in an early stage and allow care teams to be proactive in their treatment,” said Pat Keigher, Regional Director of Cancer Services for the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Macomb. “Identifying potentially cancerous tumors and diagnosing them before the disease progresses increases our likelihood of treatments being more effective, and the patient achieving a favorable outcome.”
The early symptoms of colorectal cancer are often subtle and may not cause any discomfort initially, placing greater importance on following a screening schedule.
Designed to identify precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they potentially become more severe, the American Cancer Society recommends that people living with an average risk for colorectal cancer start regular screenings at age 45. These screenings range from the non-invasive, such as an annual stool exam, to visual exams through a colonoscopy procedure, which is typically recommended every 10 years.
Doctors may recommend a more frequent screening schedule for those patients with a family history of colorectal cancer or factors that may increase their risk for developing the cancer, such as a history of inflammatory bowel disease, screening may need to start earlier or be conducted more frequently.
Learn more about the cancer services offered at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Macomb at karmanos.org/macomb.
About McLaren Macomb
McLaren Macomb is a 288-bed acute care hospital located in Mount Clemens, Mich. More than 400 physicians and nearly 2,000 employees work at McLaren Macomb making it one of Macomb County’s top employers. McLaren Macomb provides a full range of services, including cancer, surgical services, orthopedics and cardiovascular care. As Macomb County’s first verified trauma center, the hospital operates the busiest emergency department in Macomb County. It is also an accredited chest pain center, a certified primary stroke center and an accredited bariatric and metabolic center. McLaren Macomb is a leader in graduate medical education, offering nine residency programs and three fellowship programs. McLaren Macomb has a rich history of providing high quality, compassionate health care and holds a strong position in the community it serves. Learn more at mclaren.org/macomb.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a $6.6 billion, fully integrated health care delivery system committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 13 hospitals in Michigan, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 640-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 732,838 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers. McLaren has 28,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 113,000 network providers throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Learn more at mclaren.org.