Free Health and Cancer Screening in Topeka on Saturday, August 8
The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus, in partnership with the Kansas Masons, Orient-Topeka Lodge No. 17 and the Masonic Cancer Alliance, will host a free community health and cancer screening event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 8, at The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus, 2641 S.W. Wanamaker Road, Suite 100, in Topeka.
The event is open to the public, and no insurance is required. Screenings are available for all ages. No appointment is necessary except for mammograms.
Doctors and healthcare professionals from the University of Kansas Medical Center, The University of Kansas Health System, the Masonic Cancer Alliance and local Kansas Masons will provide a variety of free screening services, including:
• Skin cancer screenings
• Prostate cancer screenings
• Take-home colorectal cancer screening kits
• Genetic counseling education
• Radon home testing kits while supplies last
Mammograms will also be available by appointment. Individuals interested in scheduling a mammogram should call 913-945-7864. For those with insurance, mammograms will be billed to their insurance provider. For those without insurance, the Masonic Cancer Alliance will cover the cost.
A highlight of this year's screening event is HOPE On Wheels (Health Outreach, Prevention and Education), a 42-foot mobile medical unit operated by The University of Kansas Cancer Center and its outreach network, the Masonic Cancer Alliance. The cancer screening clinic on wheels includes a mammogram room, exam space, screening and dressing area, medical refrigerator, bathroom and phlebotomy station. The unit brings cancer prevention, screening and education services directly to communities across Kansas, helping improve access to care and early detection.
Area Masons work with staff from the Masonic Cancer Alliance and the Kansas Masonic Foundation to coordinate screening events across Kansas. According to Brooke Groneman, outreach director for the Masonic Cancer Alliance, more than 20,000 Kansas residents have participated in these screenings since 2003.
"These screenings provide an opportunity for individuals and families to take an important step toward protecting their health," Groneman said. "Early detection can make a significant difference in treatment outcomes, and we encourage community members to take advantage of these free services."
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each day, including nearly 250 cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports cancer is the second-leading cause of death in Kansas. Early detection and screening can help identify potential concerns before symptoms develop.
Anyone identified with a potential health concern during a screening will be encouraged to follow up with a healthcare provider and will be provided information about available healthcare resources.
For more information about the free health and cancer screening event, contact Paula Morris at 785-295-8285.
