Free Colon Cancer Screening & Educational Workshops
Although colon cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, it can be cured if detected early. Early treatment dramatically increases a patient's chance of survival.
Experts recommend colon cancer screening for those 45 and older, or earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer or irritable bowl syndrome.
UnityPoint Health, Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities and the Iowa Cancer Consortium are teaming up to offer free at-home screening kits for Scott, Louisa and Muscatine County residents making screening easy and affordable for everyone.
The screening takes minutes at home. Simply:
- Register for an educational workshop.
- Request a free at-home screening kit.
- Follow the provided instructions and return your sample in pre-paid mailing envelope.
- Discuss results with your primary care provider. If you don't have one, we can help you schedule with a provider accepting new patients.
Virtual & In-Person Educational Workshops Offered
During this free seminar, experts will share colon cancer risks, the importance of early screening and how a simple at-home test can save your life. Pre-registration required. Virtual and in-person options available at locations throughout Scott, Louisa and Muscatine counties. Registration recommended by not required to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why screen for colon cancer? Although colon cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, it can be treated if detected early. Early treatment dramatically increases your chance of survival.
Screening takes minutes at home. You will receive a stool-based fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit. This is a simple and effective method for screening. The test can detect signs of colon cancer. Simply follow the directions and mail back your sample in the pre-paid business envelope.
The initial screening is FREE thanks to a grant from the Iowa Cancer Consortium, UnityPoint Health and Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities.
Get results fast. We will receive your results within 2 weeks after you mail back your sample. We will contact you via phone and/or in writing with your results.
What if your test is positive? This means that the test has detected blood in your stool which could be a sign of precancerous polyps or colorectal cancer. We will reach out to you to help share your results with your primary care provider and set up any recommended further testing.
I am concerned about cost or other hardships.
If further testing is recommended, often insurance or Medicaid/Medicare will cover the services. If you don't have health insurance, there are many programs to assist in paying for services. We can arrange for you to meet with a social worker or a Trinity Patient Financial Counselor. We also will provide you with a range of services available from Gilda's Club Quad Cities for support.
