Allina's Unity Hospital Provides Free Colorectal Screenings

[Fridley, January 01, 0001] Allina Hospitals & Clinics, in collaboration with several local health care organizations, provided free colorectal cancer screenings for under- or uninsured Minnesotans on Saturday, May 16, at Unity Hospital, Fridley, Minn. The event is part of Allina's effort to help improve access to colorectal cancer screening services for residents in Allina's service areas. A similar event was held earlier this spring at Allina's Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. "Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, even though it is almost entirely preventable when people undergo routine screening," says John Allen, MD, a gastroenterologist with Minnesota Gastroenterology, P.A. "When detected early, the survival rate for colorectal cancer is greater than 90 percent." Services for the event were donated by the Unity Endoscopy Center; Mercy Hospital; Minnesota Gastroenterology, P.A.; Colon and Rectal Surgery Associates, Ltd.; Hospital Pathology Associates, P.A.; American Cancer Society; Colon Cancer Coalition; Minnesota Cancer Alliance; and Minnesota Department Health. To learn more about cancer services at Unity Hospital, watch Unity Hospital Colorectal Screening. To schedule a cancer screening, contact your physician or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit cancer.org for more information.