Volunteer Spotlight
Physicians of Hope
NCC and friends had a great time at the Physicians of Hope event hosted by Olivia Hawkins and Fiesky Nunez in February. This event recognizes the support of our health care providers in anticipation of the Hope Ball on April 26, 2024.
Sponsorships are going fast!
Secure yours HERE
We’re Moving!
Client services will be temporarily moving to 527 Mills Avenue, Suite 101 A, while our current building is being demolished. Please call the office prior to visiting. Don’t worry! We’ll be open again in a brand new facility this summer. More to come!
New Building Update
Community support has helped us raise just over $4M for our Capital Campaign, which is 89% of our goal.
We are well on our way to achieving our vision of expanding
our mission in a brand new facility with an emphasis on social-emotional support for cancer patients and their families.
If you would like to learn more about our Capital Campaign and new facility. Email us at [email protected]
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Important information from Dr. Ritu F. Saha, MD, Gastroenterology Associates
Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer (CRC), is a preventable disease that affects the colon and rectum. Despite this, it is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women worldwide. What makes colorectal cancer particularly insidious is its silent progression; symptoms may not manifest until the disease has advanced to a more critical stage.
Recent findings have shattered the misconception that CRC discriminates by age, so it’s urgent to recognize and address digestive symptoms early on. Regular screenings should start at age 45 for average-risk individuals who have no symptoms. Screening should be performed earlier if there is a family history of colon cancer or multiple high-risk polyps as well as inflammatory bowel disease.
Listen to Your Gut: Recognizing Symptoms and Seeking Help
The digestive system often communicates warning signs that you should not ignore. Persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, new abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss could be indicative of colorectal issues. While it may be tempting to dismiss symptoms, early intervention can make a life-saving difference.
The idea of a screening colonoscopy can be daunting for some. But the discomfort or inconvenience of this procedure is a small price to pay for the potential prevention of a life-threatening disease. A Cologuard stool test is not an acceptable alternative in my opinion as it is far inferior to colonoscopy at detecting polyps. Many studies cite a rate of only a 40% detection of colon polyps, and it does not have the ability to remove polyps to prevent cancer. A Cologuard test may detect cancer but cannot prevent it. Cologuard also should not be performed in individuals who have had polyps in the past or have risk factors for CRC like a family history.
Please do not ignore the signs your body is giving you or underestimate the power of preventative measures like colonoscopies.
Breakfast of Champions
Breakfast of Champions with Coach Dabo in February raised $128,000 for our capital campaign building fund. Board member, Jan McCrary, announced that our new Client Services office will be named for Dabo and Katheen Swinney in honor of their years of generous support.
