The Daily News

FRANKLINTON - March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month and according to the National Cancer Institute, colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine. Rectal cancer is described as cancer of the last six inches of the colon. Together they're referred to as colorectal cancer.

A screening for colorectal cancer will be held Wednesday, March 12 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Family Medical Clinic, 711 Riverside Drive.

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A free take-home colon cancer screening kit will be distributed to men and women age 50 and above who have not been screened in the past 12 months. St. Tammany Parish Hospital is sponsoring the screening and adds that the kit is a simple and sanitary home test requiring no stool handling.

According to the state Office of Public Health, the rate of death for colorectal cancer is higher in Louisiana when compared to the rate for the rest of the United States. It is also high in Washington Parish, according to statistics.

Early screening is an effective way of discovering this cancer early and getting treatment, which provides a good chance for survival. By the time people have symptoms, which could include rectal bleeding or bowel obstruction, then it's too late.

According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer screening should begin at age 50, but African Americans should start getting screened at age 45.