Wagner Medical Clinic staff campaigns for colorectal cancer awareness

The staff at Wagner Medical Clinic staff designed tee-shirts in memory of their friend and co-worker Julie Tarver and to encourage colorectal cancer awareness.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Tarver was a nurse at Wagner Medical Clinic who lost her battle to colorectal cancer in 2011.

Shirts were designed in memory of Julie Tarver who lost her battle to Colorectal cancer in 2011.

Tee-shirts were made and will be worn by the staff on one to two days a week throughout the month of March.

On the back of the tee-shirt in memory of Julie the words are, "My friend was so brave, God made her an Angel."

Staff members wearing the tee-shirts on Monday, March 4, were Kristi Neal, Heather Smith, Morgan Noble, Monica Salomon, Lisa Ashabranner, Veronica Wilson, Kim Sneed, Kim Perez, Lisa Cook, and Pam Moore.

Smith, Nurse Practitioner, along with other staff members want to encourage their patients and the community on preventative measures to take and signs and symptoms that should be reported to a healthcare provider.

Signs and symptoms to report to a health provider include a change in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of the stool; rectal bleeding or blood in the stool; persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain; a feeling that the bowel doesn't empty completely; weakness or fatigue; or unexplained weight loss.

Smith said beginning at age 50 women and men at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should use one of the screening tests that find polyps and cancer; flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years; colonoscopy every 10 years; double contract barium enema every five years; computed tomographic colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every five years, followed by colonoscopy if possible.

Persons of moderate or high risk should consult a healthcare provider for specific re commendations that consider risk factors and age of affected relatives.