MRH&C Puts Rears in Gear for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Posted 3/10/26 (Tue)

It has been a busy month for Mobridge Regional Hospital & Clinics' Community Health Worker (CHW) Program. One way CHWs improve patient outcomes is by raising awareness about local health issues and helping patients navigate complex procedures and medical systems. This year, in partnership with American Cancer Society, Pfizer, Inc. and the SD Department of Health's Comprehensive Cancer Program and Colorectal Cancer Program, Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics is working to raise awareness about colorectal and other cancers and improve patient screening rates and health outcomes through a patient navigation program.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month--the perfect time to highlight the importance of early detection, prevention, and treatment of colorectal cancer, a common cancer affecting both men and women globally. Colorectal cancers develop in the colon or rectum, often starting as benign polyps that become cancerous over time. Awareness of how to prevent colorectal cancer is crucial: screening regularly, eating a high fiber, low fat diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking and alcohol use.

Regular screening helps detect polyps early and catch cancer at a treatable stage, often before symptoms start. Common symptoms of colorectal cancer include changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal discomfort or bloating. If you or someone you know has these symptoms, its important to consult your healthcare provider right away.

In early February, the CHW program pulled a list of all local patients with birthdays in March and sent birthday letters outlining what would be included in their annual exam this year. Remembering to get your annual exam is the best way to stay up-to-date on preventative screenings. While acute care visits focus on illness and immediate issues, an annual preventative exam gives your provider the time to complete, discuss, and schedule important preventative care activities, such as HPV and pap tests used to prevent and diagnose cervical cancer, mammograms for women starting at age 40, low-dose CT scans for lung cancer in patients that qualify based on smoking history, and colorectal cancer screenings for all patients 45 years old and older.

Mobridge Regional Hospital is lucky to have four different doctors who complete colonoscopies for patients. Dr. Travis Henderson, M.D., F.A.C.P., Dr. Josh Henderson, D.O., F.A.C.P., Dr. Clay Harper, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Dr. Andrew Hoffman, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr. Travis Henderson recently worked with the CHW Team to create a wonderful video explaining why regular colonoscopies are so important.

This March, MRH&C's Community Health Workers are attending many community events across the region to share information about colorectal cancer and how to protect yourself from this disease. The program purchased an inflatable shaped like a colon to help show members of the public what polyps and colorectal cancer looks like on a giant scale. If you would like to build awareness at your event this month, please contact CHW Team at 605-845-8120.