Dignity Health St. John’s Hospitals Recognize March as Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, affecting men and women of all races

OXNARD, CA – (March 6, 2019) – St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital (SJPVH), members of Dignity Health, recognize the significance of March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. In acknowledgment of this month, SJRMC and SJPVH offers free confidential online colorectal cancer risk assessment.

More than 75 percent of colon and rectal cancers occur in individuals with no known risk factors and they often begin with no symptoms. St. John’s encourages a proactive approach to intercepting this cancer in its earliest stages with regular screenings and the resources necessary to make informed health care decisions.

Community members can easily access the colorectal cancer risk assessment at DignityHealth.org/StJohnsRegional or DignityHealth.org/PleasantValley, under the services page and clicking on the health risk assessments.

Both men and women are equally at risk for colon cancer and the risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. Learning about colorectal cancer risk factors and having regular screenings can help identify the earliest signs of the disease, when treatment can be most effective.

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About Dignity Health St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital and St. John’s Regional Medical Center

St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo and St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard are members of Dignity Health Central Coast, an integrated network of top quality hospitals, with physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services - all recognized for quality, safety and service. Both hospitals are supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities. Hospitals in the Dignity Health Central Coast region also include Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria. Learn more at DignityHealth.org/PleasantValley and DignityHealth.org/StJohnsRegional.