The Northeast Iowa Get Your Rear in Gear recently awarded Winneshiek Medical Center Cancer Resource Center with a grant for Colon Cancer Awareness. The funds were raised during the NE Iowa 5K held in the fall of 2011.
Poster artwork for the 2012 Awareness Campaign funded in part by a grant from the NE Iowa Get Your Rear in Gear
The Cancer Resource Center at Winneshiek Medical Center is a free and convenient way for area cancer patients and their caregivers to access resources that may assist them on their journey with cancer. The WMC Cancer Center’s goal is to make significant and positive changes in the quality of life of people with cancer, their family or friends by providing high-quality cancer-related – including prevention – information. In addition to working with the Colon Cancer Coalition, the WMC Cancer Resource Center also co-sponsors the local Cancer Support Group and provides resources for two cancer related libraries donated by the WMC Auxiliary and located in the medical center.
Deb Tekippe, RN, BSN, Same Day Services Assistant Nurse manager and WMC Cancer Resource chair says, “We implemented a similar colon cancer awareness campaign in 2009 and we saw an 11 percent increase in colonoscopies performed at WMC following the campaign. This is why we do it…to promote awareness and save lives.”
The print campaign encourages screening to individuals over 50 – the recommended screening age for colorectal cancers.