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Veteran food pantry and cancer screening event on tuesday

PRESS RELEASE

October 11, 2024

Minneapolis , MN — A flurry of healthy activity is descending upon the Minneapolis VA Medical Center Tues. Oct. 15. In addition to the monthly Pop-Up Veteran Food Pantry, a Cancer Screening and Prevention Event will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

“Cancer prevention and screening for cancer is important to the care of our Veterans.  We know the Veteran population could be at a higher risk for certain types of cancer. Making lifestyle choices lowers your overall risk of developing cancer. Screening for certain types of cancer before someone has symptoms allows for early detection of cancer which can improve our ability to treat certain types of cancer,” said Mark Klein, a physician and clinic leader in the Oncology Department, Minneapolis VA Medical Center. 

Clinical staff will be available to answer questions about cancer prevention and ways to lower your cancer risk with healthy eating and weight management. Experts on breast cancer and screening will be available to talk about important screening for early cancer detection. Primary care teams will be screening Veterans for colorectal cancer risk and issuing FIT tests. A FIT test, (fecal immunochemical test), is a safe and painless stool test that detects hidden blood in the stool and can be used in place of a colonoscopy for those who are at average risk for colon cancer. Test can be performed at home and only take a few minutes.

The Veteran Food Pantry and Cancer Prevention Screening event are taking place in the main atrium of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, on Tues. Oct. 15, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

Media contacts

Melanie Nelson, Public Affairs Officer

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