Sangamon Sun

During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, HSHS St. John’s Hospital is offering free at-home screening tests to help ease the anxiety associated with medical testing. This initiative comes as colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Individuals aged 45 or older, or those with an immediate family member diagnosed with colon cancer, are eligible to receive a FIT kit at-home screening test. These kits will be distributed on Thursday, March 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. John’s Pavilion Circle Drive in Springfield, while supplies last.

The hospital emphasizes that early detection significantly increases treatment success rates for colorectal cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that nearly 90% of patients diagnosed early have a five-year survival rate. Despite a general decline in colorectal cancer rates, there has been an annual increase of nearly 2.5% in diagnoses among individuals under age 50 between 2012 and 2021, according to the ACS.

Participants are required to return their samples to HSHS St. John’s Cancer Center by Monday, April 7, during regular business hours. The hospital's laboratory will analyze these tests and share results with participants and their primary care physicians.

This screening does not replace a colonoscopy but serves as an important tool for early detection.

For more information about this event, interested individuals can contact the hospital at 217-814-5395.