Rockport hospital plans colorectal cancer event

ROCKPORT – Penobscot Bay Medical Center is marking colorectal cancer awareness month with an open house at its newly renovated endoscopy unit on Saturday, March 24.

An education session on basic anatomy and the risk factors and symptoms of colorectal cancer will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Pen Bay Physicians’ Building, Conference Room C, followed by an open house in the unit. Visitors can view a model colon using an actual colonoscope and take home a free hemacult testing kit, which tests for hidden blood in stools.

The American Cancer Society recommends regular colorectal screening starting at age 50, including a sigmoidoscopy (rectal scope exam) and colonoscopy (colon scope exam) every five years.

For information, call the Endoscopy Unit at 596-8424.