NMCP Celebrates GI Nurses and Associates Day with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Booth

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Medical Center Portsmouth's (NMCP's) Gastroenterology Clinic celebrated GI Nurses and Associates Day March 27 for the seventh year in a row with an information booth campaigning for Colorectal Cancer Awareness.

The purpose of the booth was to inform men and women who are 50 years or older about the importance of having regular colorectal cancer screening tests.

For those who have an average risk, colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years; a fecal occult blood test should be completed yearly with positive results followed up with a colonoscopy; and a flexible sigmoidoscopy is recommended every five years.

"I started doing this seven years ago," said Zenaida D. Limon, a clinic nurse specialist in the Gastroenterology Clinic. "Every year I give away about 1,000 pamphlets about colorectal cancer awareness, and I am hoping that those who see the booth pass the information they learn here to other people."

"We are providing pointers on a good diet, diagnosis and prevention and things to look for," said Hospitalman Egor Fomin, from the Gastroenterology Clinic. "Colorectal cancer is a serious issue. Prevention is important and early detection is paramount to the prevention of this disease."

Among the cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with CRC and more than 50,000 people die from it.

People who have no identified risk factors should begin regular screening at age 50, or 45 years old for African Americans. Those who have a family history of CRC or other risk factors for colorectal polyps or cancer should talk to their doctor about when and how often to get tested.

A colon polyp is a growth on the surface of the colon. Some colon polyps are benign, which means they are not cancer. But some types of polyps may already be cancer or can become cancer, according to Limon.

"Colon cancer, if it is treated early, is beatable, stoppable and preventable," Limon said. "About 30 procedures are performed a day and the clinic sees a new patient every 15 minutes, five days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., so we see a lot of people. We have the busiest clinic in the hospital."

Many polyps and colorectal cancers do not produce symptoms until they become fairly large. Screening involves one or more tests performed to identify whether a person with no symptoms has a disease or condition that may lead to colon or rectal cancer. The goal is to identify the potential for disease or the condition early when it is easier to prevent or cure.

For more news from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, visit www.navy.mil/local/NMCP/.