ELLSWORTH FREE MEDICAL CLINIC
FALL 2025 NEWSLETTER
COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the US and accounts for 10% of all cancer cases. It can be prevented and detected early with routine screening by colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or stool samples.
Recommendations:
Age 45-75 Colonoscopy every 10 years
Age 76-85 Colonoscopy frequency based on individual factors
The recommended stool tests are:
Guaiac FOBT every 1-2 years. Uses chemical to detect heme(a blood protein)
FIT Test every 1-2 years. Uses antibodies to detect heme (a blood protein)
FIT DNA. Same as above with DNA detection
Clinic Updates
Flu season may be over however , we still have the current flu vax until end of June available for those who wish to have it or need proof of vax for work.
The search continues for additional
nurse volunteers and we are now
advertising on our Facebook page. The use of
Medical Assistants ( has been
approved provided a clinical coordinator
is available.
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
Telling the difference between expected
behaviors and what might be the signs
of a mental illness isn’t always easy.
There’s no easy test that can let
someone know if there is mental illness
Each illness has its own symptoms, but
common signs of mental illness in adults
and adolescents can include the
following:
• Excessive worrying or fear
• Feeling excessively sad or low
• Confused thinking or problems
concentrating and learning
• Extreme mood changes,
including uncontrollable “highs” or
feelings of euphoria
• Prolonged or stro ng feelings of
irritability or anger
• Avoiding friends and social
activities
• Difficulties understanding or
relating to other people
• Changes in sleeping habits or
feeling tired and low energy
• Changes in eating habits such as
increased hunger or lack of
appetite
• Changes in sex drive
• Difficulty perceiving reality
(delusions or hallucinations, in
which a person experiences and
senses things that don’t exist in
objective reality)
• Inability to perceive changes in
one’s own feelings, behavior or
personality (”lack of insight”
• Overuse of substances like
alcohol or drugs
• Multiple physical ailments without
obvious causes (such as
headaches, stomach aches,
vague and ongoing “aches and
vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
• Thinking about suicideThinking about suicide
• Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
• An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance
Don’t be afraid to reach out if you Don’t be afraid to reach out if you know know someone someone that may need help.
If someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.available.
Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Looking at our numbers so far through April 2025:
PatiePatient visits: 275
Unduplicated patient count:98
Value of care provided: $53,325
Volunteer hours: 356.75
Counties served: Hancock, Kennebec, Somerset, Kennebec, Somerset, Washington, PiscataquisWashington, Piscataquis
Contact us at:
office@ellsworthfreeclinic.org
or
207-667-7953
Eric
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The Clinic has been very busy providing visits and flu shots to our patients. It is that
season again and we want to stay as healthy as possible!
Influenza is a contagious upper respiratory illness that hits your lungs, throat and nose.
Once down, you’ll likely be feeling symptoms for several days, and the flu is easily
transmitted to others.
Getting a flu shot can institute protection against some strains of the flu virus about two
weeks after you get the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommend that people six months and older should get a flu shot unless they have a
history of allergic reaction. If they do, they should discuss the allergy with their
physician prior to getting a flu shot.
248 State St # 16, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Email: office@ellsworthfreeclinic.org
Phone: (207) 667-7953
Fax: (207) 664-0802 |
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