03/11/2026
News Release - 03/9/2026
*Tuscarawas County Health Department Offers Free Colon Cancer Screenings*
DOVER—Thanks to grant funding from Guardant Health, the Tuscarawas County Health Department is offering free colorectal cancer screenings during the month of March for all adults age 45 and older who do not have active symptoms of colorectal cancer and do not have a family history of the disease in their parents or siblings.
Free colorectal cancer screenings will be available by appointment or walk-in on the following dates and times:
• Mondays, March 9, 16, and 23: 9 a.m. to noon
• Wednesdays, March 11, 18, and 25: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
To schedule an appointment or ask questions, call 330-343-5555, ext. 1810. Fasting is not required for the test. Patients need to bring a current ID card to verify age.
Each free screening test is an FDA-approved “Shield by Guardant” colorectal cancer (CRC) blood test, with results available approximately two weeks after testing. Shield is the first and only blood test approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for CRC for adults age 45 and older at average risk, offering patients a more pleasant and convenient option for screening by overcoming barriers associated with other screening methods.
Often called “colon cancer,” colorectal cancer is among the most frequently diagnosed cancers in Tuscarawas County residents. “This simple blood test is an excellent option for adults over 45 who do not have colon cancer symptoms or a direct family history,” explained Amber Dunlap-Ott, Certified Nurse Practitioner at the Tuscarawas County Health Department. “Symptoms of colon cancer can include changes in bowel habits, blood in your stool, abdominal pain that doesn’t go away, and unexplained weight loss. When colon cancer is detected early, the chances for successful treatment are greatly increased. If a person’s CRC screening test result is positive, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have colon cancer. In those cases, our medical office staff will call the patient and recommend a colonoscopy.”
CRC blood test screening results will be shared with each patient’s regular medical provider, allowing those who already have a doctor to follow up with their own physician or another medical provider.
Guardant Health
