Wichita Grant Provides Colorectal Cancer Services to Those in Need

The Colon Cancer Coalition and the planning team from Get Your Rear in Gear – Wichita recently awarded a grant to Via Christi Philanthropy and Via Christi Oncology Services from money raised through past Get Your Rear in Gear events in Wichita.

The grant will provide financial support for uninsured and underinsured colorectal cancer patients. By partnering with area oncologists, pathologists, and surgeons, Via Christi oncology nurse navigators will identify colorectal cancer patients who are newly diagnosed, currently undergoing treatment, or currently in a follow-up status. Patients also will be identified if a positive result is found from Via Christi’s annual colorectal cancer screening initiative.

“Many people over the age of 50 aren’t aware that they should have a colon cancer screening and if they do want to get the screening, they may not have the funds to cover the cost,” says Keisha Humphries, service line administrator of Oncology Services for Via Christi Hospitals. “One of our goals through this grant is to decrease the number of cases of colon cancer in Kansas during the next four to five years. This grant will go a long way in helping us to do that.”

Get Your Rear in Gear – Wichita is a 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun run that’s been held annually since 2010. Via Christi Health has been a sponsor of the event for the past three years. The funds for the grant were raised though our past events.

“The money raised for this grant will help provide colonoscopies and colon cancer screenings for the uninsured and underinsured in Wichita,” says J.J. Sorochty, event director, whose sister, Debbie Hernandez Mitchell, is a colon cancer survivor. “So many people are affected by the financial stresses that cancer brings. We wanted to alleviate that stress and help where we can.”

Debbie was diagnosed in September 2009 with stage IV colon cancer at the age of 42, and had no family history of the disease. The sisters started Get Your Rear in Gear – Wichita as a way of raising awareness about colon cancer.

This year’s race will be held Sunday, May 29, at the Farm & Art Market Plaza in Wichita.

More information

Colon cancer typically occurs after the age of 50, but if you start to experience blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits or abdominal cramping before the age of 50, it’s important to get them checked out. The main form of prevention for this type of cancer is to be screened at the age of 50. If that test is normal and you don’t have any risk factors, the next screening should be done in 10 years. If there is family history of colon cancer, your physician may encourage you to be screened at an earlier age, especially if the family member’s cancer occurred before the age of 50.

More about Colon Cancer

Watch the story below from Get Your Rear in Gear – Wichita media partner KSN TV.

This story was originally shared by grant recipient Via Christie in Wichita, KS.