AMC Teams to Promote Awareness & Prevention of Colon Cancer

February 13th, 2007
     SARANAC LAKE - Adirondack Medical Center is teaming with Essex and Franklin County Public Health Services, the American Cancer Society, and the Adirondack Wellness Movement to celebrate National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month throughout March.         
     Through this collaborative effort, these agencies will work to spread awareness that colorectal cancer is largely preventable, treatable and beatable through regular screenings, a healthy lifestyle and expert clinical care.
     From February 24 - March 15, the colorectal cancer awareness team will be at pharmacies and venues across the Tri-Lakes offering free screening test kits to both the insured and uninsured. If you are 50 years old or older, you are at a higher risk for colon cancer and should begin screening to prevent the disease. The month-long campaign, Fabulous at Fifty, encourages baby boomers to celebrate their age and pick up an at-home screening kit to help keep them healthy.
     In addition, the first 100 people (ages 50 and older) to pick up the free, at-home colorectal cancer screening kits will receive a lottery ticket. After completing and returning the kit, they will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card from Kinney Drugs.
     Test kits will be available at the following locations:
     Saturday, Feb. 24th, at Rite Aid in Tupper Lake from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     Monday, Feb. 26th, at Rite Aid in Tupper Lake from 3 to 6 p.m.
     Tuesday, Feb. 27th, in the lobby at AMC Saranac Lake from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     Wednesday, Feb. 28th, and Friday, March 2nd, at Kinney Drugs in Saranac Lake from 3-6 p.m.
     Thursday March 15th, at Eckerd's from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at Rite Aid from 2 to 5 p.m. in Lake Placid.
     Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer and the second cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States. Yet, with regular screening, colon cancer can be prevented or diagnosed at an early stage when it is most treatable. The risk of colon cancer increases with age, and more than 90% of cases are diagnosed in individuals over the age of 50. 
     For more information please contact Lake Placid Health Center at 523-8306 or The American Cancer Society at 1-800 ACS-2345 www.cancer.org.

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