HEALTH Conference will focus on cancer awareness

The rate of colorectal cancer in Mahoning County is above the state average.
BOARDMAN -- To commemorate March as colorectal cancer awareness month, the American Cancer Society, the Ohio Department of Health and other local health agencies will host a Colorectal Cancer Summit Conference March 29.
The free event will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 7410 South Ave.
Featured speakers include Craig Wethington, American Cancer Society; Lois Hall, Ohio Department of Health Cancer Program; Neil Altman, Youngstown City Health District; Dr. Earnest Perry, Forum Health; and Dr. Eric Chevlen Humility of Mary Health Partners.
Mahoning County is one of the 11 Ohio counties with a high rate of late-stage diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
In 2004 there were 216 new cases of colorectal cancer in Mahoning County and 86 people died from the disease. The number of new cases of colorectal cancer and the death rate from this disease in Mahoning County are higher than the state and national averages.
Common cancer
Overall, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women combined in the United States.
"Our ultimate goal is to reduce these numbers by educating the community about the importance of getting screened at the proper age and detecting this type of cancer very early," said Altman. "If we can increase the screening rate, we should be able to reduce late-stage diagnosis."
The survival rate from colorectal cancer is 90 percent when the cancer is diagnosed early before it has spread beyond the intestinal wall of the bowel. Yet, only about one in three colon cancers are diagnosed early.
Colorectal cancer develops in the lower part of the digestive system and usually develops from precancerous changes or growths in the lining of the colon and rectum.
The colorectal cancer summit is for physicians, nurses, colorectal cancer survivors, seniors and others who are interested in reducing the burden of colorectal cancer in Mahoning County.
Also helping with the summit are the Mahoning Valley Coalition for Cancer Control & amp; Prevention in the Black Community, Forum Health, Humility of Mary Health Partners, the Mahoning County District Board of Health, and the Youngstown City Health District.
For more information or to register, call (888) 227-6446.