WVU Medicine offers colon cancer screening kits

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and WVU Medicine East is sponsoring a program, FIT Fridays, to increase awareness of the importance of early detection through screening.

FIT (fecal immunochemical test) is a take home screening option for colon cancer that requires no diet or medication restrictions. Easy and convenient, it is a great way to increase colorectal cancer screening rates which can save lives.

Beginning March 1, area residents will be able to purchase a FIT test kit for $25 to screen for colon cancer. The kits will be available for purchase every Friday in March from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at two locations – Blue Ridge Healthcare (Dr. Cathy Funk’s office, 2000 Professional Court) in Martinsburg and Jefferson Internal Medicine (Dr. Vikram Dayal’s office, 207 E. Fifth Avenue) in Ranson.

The American Cancer Society recommends screening for colon cancer at age 45 – 75 or younger if you have a family history or are at high risk. Clinical studies have found that early screening and follow up testing can lead to a decreased chance of developing colorectal cancer.

“Colorectal cancer has a high survival rate if caught early through screening before symptoms begin to show,” Josh Mongold, Jefferson Medical Center lab manager, said. “As always, we recommend that you speak to your physician to determine if screening is best for you.”

For more information on FIT Fridays, contact Mongold at 304-728-1659 or joshua.mongold@wvumedicine.org.