2011 Free Colon Cancer Screenings Sponsored by the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and the Endoscopy Lab Cancer Center of Santa Barbara   Identify colon cancer early when it is most treatable! In support of the 2011 National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Endoscopy Lab are offering free screening events in March and April in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in Santa Barbara County and the second leading in the United States.  Screening can help individuals identify colon cancer early when it is most treatable, or help prevent it all together.   A healthcare provider will be available to distribute information about colon cancer screenings as well as free take-home FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) kits to those age 50 and over. Free information tables regarding insurance, advocacy and nutrition will also be available.   Free Colon Cancer Screening Take-Home Kits and Information in Santa Barbara Colon Cancer Prevention Day Saturday, March 26, 2011 Burtness Auditorium, 1st Floor, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.   • 10:30 a.m.:  Dr. Brent Kovacs,  GI -- Colon cancer prevention and screening   • 11:00 a.m.:  Sarah Schutzberger, RD, CSO -- Nutrition and colon cancer prevention   •  Q & A session   Free Colon Cancer Screening Take-Home Kits and Information in Santa Barbara Sunday, March 27, 2011 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 227 N. Nopal St., Santa Barbara 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.   Free Colon Cancer Screening Take-Home Kits and Information in Carpinteria Sunday, April 3, 2011 St Joseph’s Church, 1532 Linden Ave., Carpinteria 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.   For more information about the screenings or the Cancer Center’s Colon Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Program, please call Lisa Hashbarger, Health Education Coordinator at the Cancer Center at (805) 569-2243 or visit www.ccsb.org   032511