NIHD: March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

District sets two screening option events

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, and Northern Inyo Healthcare District experts are encouraging patients 45 and older, or those with a family history, to seek regular screenings.

To bring this topic to the forefront, NIHD will host two events: A twonight extended-hours consultation clinic and a Healthy Lifestyle Talk.

Much like its annual “Moonlight Mammograms” screenings in October, NIHD’s General Surgery Clinic will extend its hours on Tuesday, March 21, and Wednesday, March 22, to allow patients to schedule a preventative consultation with General Surgeon Dr. Robbin Cromer-Tyler, between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m.

These sessions are designed for those 45 and older, those with a family history of colon cancer, or those wanting to take a proactive stance with their health. Cromer-Tyler will discuss colorectal cancer risk factors and screening options with those who schedule a visit.

Please call (760) 8721606 for one of these evening appointments. Please note NIHD will bill patients and/or insurance for these consultations.

Healthy lifestyle talk

Then on Thursday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m., NIHD will host its March Healthy Lifestyle Talk, “Who is at risk for Colorectal

Cancer,” a roundtable-style presentation featuring, once again, Cromer-Tyler, Dr. Connor Wiles, a general surgeon who will join the NIHD surgical team later this summer, and the event’s host, NIHD Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joy Engblade.

This educational presentation is part of NIHD’s ongoing Healthy Lifestyle Talk Series. These monthly talks are open to the public and free of charge. NIHD will present the talk in two formats:

• Broadcast LIVE on YouTube.com@Nor thernInyoHealthcare and click on the “Live” menu. Please note that to participate in the Q&A session on YouTube, you must log into that service. It would be best to log into Zoom if you do not have a YouTube or Gmail account.

• Presented live on Zoom. For connection information, please visit www.nih.org/events-calendar.

colorectal cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death among cancers in both men and women in the United States. It is the leading cause of cancer death in men younger than 50.

The recent deaths of “Black Panther” actor Chadwick Boseman, 43, and “Cheers” and “Veronica’s Closet” actor Kirstie Alley, 71, brought renewed attention to colon cancer and the need for regular screenings.

Engblade notes experts consider colorectal cancer one of the most treatable cancers. Still, the only way to detect it is through effective screenings.

For general information on Colorectal Cancer, visit https://www. cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/ .