The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Local businesses raise awareness for colon cancer
UTICA, N.Y. >> March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the Oneida County Health Department’s Cancer Services Program of Oneida, Herkimer & Madison Counties (CSP) has been working with local businesses to increase awareness in the community about the importance of screening.
Three local businesses have gotten into the spirit and are promoting awareness at their sites. Roso’s Café, in the Adirondack Bank Building in Utica and Baggs Square Café, also in Utica, are decorating with blue lights, wearing blue stars and offering “blue plate specials” once a week.
“Early detection saves lives,” said Diane DeRollo, owner of Roso’s Café. “I am a two time cancer survivor, and my cousin had colon cancer. Because he had a colonoscopy, his cancer was found early and he is doing well today.”
Roso’s Café is offering different specials each week to highlight colon cancer awareness, with details at www.rososcafe.com.
Kunkel Ambulance’s EMTs and paramedics are wearing blue stars all month to show their support. “Here at Priority (Kunkel), we feel very strongly about colorectal cancer,” said Kunkel’s Communications Specialist Raena Dye. “We have a young employee of our own struggling with this terrible disease. It is our hope that everyone will become educated on the signs/symptoms and get tested when needed. We are happy to support this wonderful cause.”
For anyone without a doctor or without insurance, the CSP can help. The CSP is part of the New York State Department of Health’s Cancer Services Program, which offers colorectal, breast and cervical cancer screening to eligible uninsured individuals in every county in the state. Locally the CSP can be reached by calling 315798-5248 or going to ohmcancerservices.org.