News Flash

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in New York State, making awareness, prevention, and screening critical to saving lives. With Schuyler County ranking among the top 15 counties in the state for high incidence rates of colorectal cancer, local outreach is especially important. Join Schuyler County Public Health at Lafayette Park on Thursday March 26th to walk through their inflatable colon between 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM. Learn about colorectal cancer and screening options.

“Screening can help prevent cancer by finding and removing pre-cancerous polyps, and it can also detect colorectal cancer early when treatment is most effective,” said Jill Kasprzyk, Director of Schuyler County Public Health. “We encourage residents to talk with their healthcare provider and take advantage of available screening resources.”

Increasing screening rates is especially important among populations that may be less likely to seek screening, including adults ages 45–54 and individuals without health insurance or a regular health care provider.

Adults, including those under age 45, should speak with a healthcare provider about screening options if they are at a higher risk of colorectal cancer or are experiencing symptoms.

• Common symptoms include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, persistent abdominal discomfort or pain, or unexplained weight loss.
• Risk factors include smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, diabetes, a family history of colorectal cancer, or increasing age.

To support screening efforts, New York’s Cancer Services Program (CSP) provides free colorectal cancer screenings for eligible residents. For more information, visit the New York State Department of Health cancer services webpage or call 607-778-3900. 

Centralus Health also offers Direct Access Colonoscopies, where eligible individuals ages 45–75 can schedule a colonoscopy without an office visit. For more information Call Arnot Gastroenterology at (607) 734-7121 or Cayuga Gastroenterology at (607) 339-0788.

There will be 4 direct opportunities to engage with this planning process and to share your input, feedback, and insights.

The public participation opportunities are outlined below:

Public Participation Meeting

Tuesday, February 24, 5:30-7pm at the Odessa Community Room

Join to learn about previous planning efforts, understand the purpose of this project, and share your thoughts on priority, opportunity, and concern areas.

Village Walk & Recap

Saturday, March 21, 11:30am-1pm, meet at the Dutton Library

Join for an approximately 1 mile walk around downtown Odessa where participants are encouraged to take notes on what they see at a pedestrian-level and identify problem areas and opportunities as they experience Odessa streets as a pedestrian. After, the group will gather to discuss their observations over refreshments. Attendees should be prepared to walk at a comfortable/casual pace for approximately one mile or can plan to join for the recap meeting after the walk concludes.

Share your thoughts

Monday, March 16 through Monday, April 6 at the Dutton Library, during library hours

Drop by the library at your convenience to share your thoughts on possible methods to improve walkability in your community (hands-on activities). Activities will be available during regular library hours. These activities are self-guided and seek to provide a casual, convenient opportunity for residents and stakeholders to share their thoughts.

Public Participation Meeting

Sunday, April 12, 2-4:30pm at the Odessa Community Room

Review recommendations and strategies based on findings from the first meeting, walk, and library drop-ins. Depending on those results, this could look like voting on different remedies, getting clarity on plan materials, or commenting on other facets of the plan.