SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― Regional West has announced it will join a statewide effort to help raise awareness of lifesaving colon cancer screening during Colon Cancer Awareness Month and Dress in Blue Day on Friday, March 4.

Since 2009, Dress in Blue Day has encouraged individuals, businesses, and communities to dress in blue to help bring awareness to colon cancer and honor those affected. According to the Nebraska Cancer Coalition, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women combined in the United States. Colon cancer rates are significantly higher in Nebraska, which reports a 42.9% case rate versus the United States’ 38% rate. Screening, especially for those ages 45 or older, can identify precancerous polyps or detect cancer early enough to provide a good prognosis for recovery.

“Because colon cancer often starts without symptoms, screening is vital for early diagnosis and better treatment outcomes,” said Regional West physician Armando “AJ” Magana, MD.

Regional West offers many options for cancer screening services, including screening colonoscopies at Regional West Physicians Clinic-Internal Medicine. Patients should visit with their primary healthcare provider for a referral. Additionally, Regional West Community Health offers free at-home colon cancer screening kits. To learn more about these kits, call Community Health at 308-630-1821.

Nebraska residents between the ages of 45 to 75 years old who meet certain income guidelines may be eligible for free or low-cost colon cancer screening. For more information, visit the Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program website or call 800-532-2227.

For more information about Regional West’s cancer services, call 308-630-1348 or visit RWHS.org.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and the only Level II Trauma Center in Nebraska west of Kearney. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 in-network providers and approximately 2,000 staff members, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.