STOP COLON CANCER PROGRAM

Be the ONE to give hope STOP Colon Cancer

Together, we can save lives and families

Virginia Mae King Foundation is dedicated to bringing awareness to the communities concerning colon cancer among African American Men. By educating, helping with resources, financial assistance for colon cancer screenings and acquiring quality healthcare professionals.  Early detection is the key for survival and VMKF will host prevention and awareness events.

 RESOURCES

More information about screening options is available from the CDC. http://coloncancercoalition.org/get-educated/get-screened
https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
https://gi.org/patients/find-a-gastroenterologist/

WHY YOU SHOULD GET SCREENED

The pandemic has had a devastating effect on colorectal cancer screenings, treatment, and research, putting more lives at risk.

The chance of surviving colon cancer goes up with early  detection and treatment—but only 40% of colon cancers are found in the early stages. Help us increase screening rates and save more lives.

Are you at risk?

GET SCREENED

Many colorectal cancer deaths can be prevented by early and regular screenings. Colonoscopies locate and remove polyps, which are tiny growths that can become cancerous. Stool-based screening methods check for blood or other signs of cancer in your stool. The goal in screening is to find colon and rectal cancer in its earliest stages and to remove polyps before they become cancerous.

Colorectal cancer often appears without symptoms, so screening is essential in catching and stopping the disease early.

Current American Cancer Society guidelines recommend first screening at age 45, or earlier if you have a family history of the disease. When caught early, colon and rectal cancer is both treatable and beatable. As always, we recommend you talking with your health insurance company prior to any procedure.

What are the symptoms of colon or rectal cancer?

While early colon cancer often has no symptoms, sometimes several signs can be present. Warning signs to look for include:

• Blood in or on the stool; a change in bowel habits; or stools that are narrower than usual
• General stomach discomfort or frequent gas pains
• Weight loss that occurs despite no change daily habits or diet
• Chronic fatigue

If you suffer from any of these warning signs, please discuss them with your doctor immediately.

What types of screening tests are available?

There are several different ways to find and diagnose colon cancer. Your health care provider can recommend the best test for you based on your health history, symptoms, and risk level.

Early diagnosis of colon cancer is the key to surviving the disease. When detected in its early stages through screening tests, 90% of colon cancer cases are preventable, treatable, and beatable.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following tests for colorectal cancer screening: colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and at-home stool testing.

 Do not wait until you are 45 to talk to your doctor about screening! Especially among African American Men!

Reasons to get screened for colon cancer also include:

• If you are experiencing symptoms.
• If you have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).
• If your parents or immediate family members have had polyps, talk to your doctor about starting screening at an age 10 years before their polyps were discovered.
• If you have a family history of colon cancer or a genetic syndrome like Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer) or FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis).

Important! If you feel your concerns are being ignored by your current physician, do not be afraid to seek a second opinion and continue to request screening. You are your own best advocate and should feel empowered to take control of your health.