SENT Topeka

⚠️ The Alarming Rise of GI Cancers in Black Men: Why Early Screening Cannot Wait. Across the country, something deeply concerning is happening — Black men are being diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers earlier, faster, and at more advanced stages than any other group.

This is not just statistics.
These are fathers, brothers, sons, coworkers, and friends.
This is our community.

📊 The Reality

Studies show that African American men:
🔸 Are 20 percent more likely to develop colorectal cancer
🔸 Are 40 percent more likely to die from it
🔸 Face higher rates of stomach cancer
🔸 Are often diagnosed 10 to 15 years earlier than the standard screening age
🔸 Carry biological, environmental, and systemic risks that go untreated for too long

And one of the biggest challenges?
The traditional healthcare system does not screen early enough.

By the time symptoms appear, the cancer has often spread.
By the time screening is recommended, it may already be too late.

We must rewrite the timeline — and it starts with awareness and early action.

💥 Why Black Men Are at Higher Risk

This crisis is driven by interconnected challenges:
🔸 Limited access to consistent healthcare
🔸 Barriers in transportation and scheduling
🔸 Lower screening rates due to mistrust or stigma
🔸 Diet-related risks from food deserts and limited fresh food access
🔸 Delayed diagnoses because symptoms mimic common illnesses
🔸 Cultural pressures that tell men to “push through” instead of seeking care

None of this is anyone’s fault.
But together, we can begin to change the outcome.

🧪 A Simple At-Home Test Could Save Your Life

The Southside Wellness Clinic now offers ColoFIT, an easy, at-home stool test that screens for GI cancer markers.

You can do it privately, in your own home, without:
🔸 A colonoscopy
🔸 Invasive procedures
🔸 Sedation
🔸 Embarrassment

And cost won’t stand in your way — the test is offered on an income-adjusted sliding scale of $30 to $50.

Early detection changes everything.

📅 When Should Screening Start?

For African Americans, experts recommend:
🔸 Begin at age 40
🔸 Or age 35 with family history
🔸 Or 10 years before the youngest relative diagnosed

Do not wait for symptoms. The symptoms often come too late.

📞 TAKE THE FIRST STEP TODAY

Protect your future. Protect your family. Protect your life.

👉 Call the Southside Wellness Clinic to schedule your screening
📞 785-228-2346

Your health matters. Your life matters. And we are here to walk with you.

Southside Wellness Clinic: senttopeka.com/southside-wellness-clinic

SENT Inc. | Loving Relationships & Strategic Development
Contact us! 📲 (785) 783-2535 | 📧 [email protected]

📬 If you want to stay close to what is happening in SE Topeka — the real work, the real stories, the real progress — our monthly newsletter is a good place to start.
Each month, we share updates from across our programs, upcoming events, and reflections on the issues shaping our community. Sign up at the link below, and we will take it from there.
✅ eepurl.com/dFxhiP
✅ SIGN UP for our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dFxhiP

SENT Inc. | Loving Relationships & Strategic Development
Contact us! 📲 (785) 783-2535 | 📧 [email protected]

☀️ It's our Summer Giveaway — and all it takes is 4 questions to enter!

SENT Inc. and Fellowship Hi-Crest want to hear from you. Answer a few quick questions for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. That's it.

🗓 Giveaway runs July 1–10
🏆 Winner drawn after July 10

🔗 Enter here: https://into.church/KBfjF0zy

Or follow these steps:
1️⃣ Visit the link above
2️⃣ Answer the questions
3️⃣ Share and tag a friend

The more people who participate, the better we can understand and serve our community. Your voice matters — and you might win something while sharing it. 💙

🔗 Enter here: https://into.church/KBfjF0zy

SENT Inc. | Loving Relationships & Strategic Development
📲 (785) 783-2535 | 📧 [email protected]

Fellowship Hi-Crest | Walking in community with others through the power of Jesus Christ.
📲 (785) 431-0404 | 📧 [email protected]