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Coshocton Hospital teams with surgeons and MVHC to fight Colorectal Cancer

| March 11, 2015

COSHOCTON – March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month and is the perfect time for people age 50 and older to consider following medical recommendations to begin getting colorectal screenings to prevent the devastating effects of colorectal cancer. This form of cancer in the colon or rectum is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States among cancers that affect both men and women. Coshocton Hospital is joining with Clark Leslie, MD, and Joshua Paulick, MD, surgeons with Southeastern Ohio Physicians, Inc., and the Muskingum Valley Health Center to encourage community members to get screened for colorectal cancer.

Coshocton Hospital and surgeons Leslie and Paulick are offering free screening colonoscopies in March for uninsured or underinsured individuals who qualify under the hospital’s financial assistance program, which is based on federal poverty guidelines. Participants must be age 50 or older, or have symptoms such as blood in or on the stool; stomach pains, aches or cramps that don’t go away; or unexplained weight loss. To find out if you meet the financial qualifications for a free or discounted screening colonoscopy, you are encouraged to call 740-623-4305 for assistance. Space for these free procedures is limited and scheduling will be for times available on the physicians’ surgery schedules at Coshocton Hospital.

As a part of this effort to increase colon cancer awareness, the Muskingum Valley Health Center is providing free home screening tests at their 406 S. 15th St. location from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays through Dec. 31. The home screening kit will help identify symptoms that may require further follow-up.

Since more than 90 percent of colorectal cancer cases occur in people age 50 and older, it’s important to get a screening as it helps prevent the disease by finding pre-cancerous polyps (growths) so they can be removed. Colonoscopy screening also finds cancer earlier, often before symptoms appear and when treatment can be most effective.

For information about scheduling a screening colonoscopy with Dr. Paulick or Dr. Leslie and their Coshocton Hospital staff, contact Matt Donley at 740-623-4305.

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Article contributed to The Beacon.

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