The wife of Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson is asking Kentuckians to be proactive about colon cancer screenings.
Madeline Abramson is honorary chair of the Kentucky Cancer Program’s “Dress in Blue Day”, which is designed to draw awareness to colon cancer. Abramson said many Kentuckians don’t realize the disease is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the nation, and that many of those deaths could be prevented through screenings.
She said some people are embarrassed to talk about the disease in the same way many refused to openly discuss breast cancer decades ago.
“People didn’t talk about it, whether they had it or not. They didn’t get mammograms. Of course we’re not much more open about that, and that’s what we’re trying to do with colon cancer, in a sense. We’re trying to get people to be aware, and to take responsibility for their own health.”
Many Kentuckians who lack health insurance can qualify for free colon cancer screenings through area health departments. The program is funded by the state and private donations, and is aimed at screenings for Kentucky residents who meet certain age and income guidelines.
More information on the new colon cancer screening program can be found by calling your local health department, contacting the Kentucky Cancer Program at 1-877-326-1134, and at kycancerprogram.org.