Submitted
Free health and cancer screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 26 at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. Seventh Street in Hays.
The free screenings are hosted by the Kansas Masons, Hays Masonic Lodge #195, the Masonic Cancer Alliance (MCA), and The University of Kansas Cancer Center.
This community outreach event is free and open to the public. Insurance is not required. All ages are welcome. No appointments are necessary.
Lodge members and staff from the MCA, the outreach network of KU Cancer Center, are teaming up with health professionals from the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) to provide the following:
· prostate cancer screenings
· skin cancer screenings
· colorectal cancer take-home screening kits
· tobacco cessation information
Area Masons work with staff from the MCA and the Kansas Masonic Foundation to coordinate many of the free screening events that often draw several hundred attendees of all ages. According to Brooke Groneman, MCA outreach director, more than 20,000 Kansas residents have attended the screenings since 2003.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer every day, and nearly 250 of those are diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer. The Centers for Disease Control reports that cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in Kansas, and the region has higher than average rates of skin cancer compared to other parts of the country.
When it comes to the possibility of cancer, it is always better to catch a potential problem in the earliest stage possible. Anyone identified with a possible health concern at one of the free screenings is advised by the screening team to follow up with his/her local physician or provided with information on how to find a healthcare provider.
For more information on the free health and cancer screening event in Hays, call Chris Neeley at 785-259-2067.
The Masonic Cancer Alliance (MCA), the outreach network of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, is a membership-based organization developed to improve cancer care across the region by providing access to the latest advancements close to home. The MCA links hospitals and healthcare partners across Kansas and western Missouri to lab discoveries made at KU Cancer Center. It also provides its members with access to clinical trials, professional education, patient navigation services, networking, and outreach opportunities.