Through the St. Mary’s County Health Department Colorectal Cancer Program, eligible residents receive recommended colorectal cancer screening services at no cost to them. Limited funds may also be available to help with treatment costs for colorectal cancer.
Colorectal Cancer and Screening
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer occurs in the colon (large bowel) or rectum (connection between large bowel and anus), it is called “colorectal cancer” (sometimes referred to as “colon cancer”). Of cancers affecting both men and women in the United States, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cancer killer. If everybody aged 50 or older had regular screening tests, as many as 60% of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. Screening for colorectal cancer helps detect and treat pre-cancerous problems and early stages of cancer. When colorectal cancer is treated in its early stages, treatment often leads to a cure.
St. Mary’s County Colorectal Cancer Program
A resident may be eligible for colonoscopy if he or she is:
- Age 50 and over, or under age 50 with a family history and/or symptoms
- Uninsured, underinsured, or limited income
- A Maryland resident
To get more information or to enroll in the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, contact the St. Mary’s County Health Department at (301) 475-4330.