New Colon Cancer Prevention Initiative in Memory of Larry Tompkins

March is International Colon Cancer Awareness Month, but Colon Cancer Awareness has been at an all-time high at Greater Greenwood United Ministry (GGUM) for months now.

With its latest initiative, The Larry Tompkins Colon Cancer Prevention Program, GGUM’s Free Medical Clinic is driving an intentional, concerted, and persuasive campaign to encourage all patients aged 45 or older to get screened for colon cancer.

GGUM Executive Director Rosemary Bell explains, “Losing one of our own pushed us to move on this vicious disease now”, sharing that the nonprofit’s in-house pharmacist Larry Tompkins succumbed to Colon Cancer in January.

Tompkins had already been diagnosed with colon cancer last year when GGUM sought Greenwood Women Care grant funding for screening for the life-threatening condition.

That grant award allowed GGUM to administer its new Larry Tompkins Colon Cancer Prevention Program, which GGUM’s Free Medical Clinic launched in memory of the beloved GGUM pharmacist in January shortly after his homegoing.

Here’s how the program works:

Today, all GGUM Free Medical Clinic patients 45 and older are advised to take a Fecal Immunochemical test (FIT).

• Doctor prescribes the FIT test
• A laboratory technician gives the test to the patient, explains how to collect the specimen, and instructs the patient to return the test to the clinic.
• The test is then sent to Self Regional Healthcare for results.
• Results get entered in the patient’s chart
• Medical Provider shares the results with the patient

If the results are good, the patient is encouraged to repeat the test annually.

However, if the results are of concern, the patient will be referred to and scheduled for a colonoscopy at either MUSC Colon Cancer Research or Access Health Lakelands.

The sole purpose of The Larry Tompkins Colon Cancer Prevention Program is to detect cancer early when treatment options work best and can increase a positive health outcome.

Most colorectal cancer develops from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find these polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer; however, colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

Self Regional Healthcare (SRH), a primary funder of GGUM’s Free Medical Clinic for nearly 30 years, advocates health screenings such as colorectal testing as one of its top priorities in its Health Needs Assessment.

GGUM staff and volunteers proudly sport Colorectal Cancer Awareness tee shirts courtesy of The Colorectal Cancer Prevention Network.

GGUM’s Free Medical Clinic advocates Access to Healthcare in a loving, God-centered, faith-based environment as one of its top priorities.

Click the button below to learn more about GGUM’s Free Medical Clinic and ways to donate your time or resources.