In recognition of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and to further raise awareness — and promote the importance of — early detection, the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Clarkston is providing free at-home screening kits throughout the month.
Between March 1 and March 31, members of the Clarkston community can register for the free kit by calling (248) 922-6659 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Registration is required.
“All screenings are designed to catch the cancer at an early stage,” said Dr. Nehal Altaie, an internist with McLaren Oakland – Dixie Highway Internal Medicine in Clarkston. “Identifying potentially cancerous tumors and diagnosing them before the disease progresses allows us to be proactive in treatment and begin when the disease itself is at its most treatable. This increases our likelihood of treatments being more effective, and the patient achieving a favorable outcome. But it all begins with a screening and following recommended screening schedules.”
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.
These subtle symptoms of early-stage colorectal cancer can include:
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Changing bowel habits
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Blood in the stool
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Persistent constipation or diarrhea
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Sensation that the bowel does not completely empty
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Unexplained weight loss
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Consistent cramps or gas pains
Visit mclaren.org/appointments to book an appointment a McLaren Oakland primary care provider to discuss a recommended colorectal cancer screening schedule.
Learn more about benefits of cancer care at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Clarkston at mclaren.org/clarkstoncancer.
About McLaren Clarkston
McLaren Clarkston represents the largest ground-up development in the history of the corporation. The $600 million health care village project, located on 95 acres of prime real estate in northern Oakland County, is being developed in two phases. Phase I opened in May 2009 and includes a 138,000 sq. ft. Medical Office Building, a 42,000 sq. ft. freestanding cancer center and a 5-acre Garden of Healing and Renewal. Learn more at mclaren.org/clarkston.
About McLaren Oakland
McLaren Oakland is a 318-bed hospital that provides primary and specialty healthcare services to the greater Pontiac and Oakland County, Michigan communities. Founded in 1953, McLaren Oakland has grown to a comprehensive medical community that includes outpatient facilities in Clarkston and Oxford, in addition to an inpatient hospital in Pontiac providing a range of clinical services including emergency and trauma care, cardiology, cancer services, minimally invasive robotic surgery, and orthopedic services. McLaren Oakland offers ACGME accredited residency and fellowship programs in anesthesiology, diagnostic radiology, emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, pulmonary disease and critical care medicine, and transitional year, in addition to a CPME accredited podiatry program. Learn more at mclaren.org/oakland.
About Karmanos Cancer Institute
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is a leader in transformative cancer care, research and education through courage, commitment and compassion. As part of McLaren Health Care, Karmanos is the largest provider of cancer care and research in the state of Michigan. Our administrative and research headquarters, along with our premier specialty cancer hospital, are located in downtown Detroit. Our 15 network sites throughout the state deliver market leading cancer care and clinical trials conveniently to the communities where many of our patients live. Karmanos is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the best cancer centers in the nation. Our academic partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine provides the framework for cancer research and education – defining new standards of care and improving survivorship. Learn more at karmanos.org.
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 490-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 in the U.S. 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.