October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer during her life. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in New York State. Each year in New York, nearly 15,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 2,700 women die from the disease. These women are our wives, mothers, sisters, and friends.
Breast cancer is most commonly found in women 50 years old or older. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends a mammogram every two years for women between 50 and 74 years of age. Women ages 40 to 49 years old are encouraged to talk to their health care providers about when and how often they should have screening mammograms. Any woman who is at high risk for breast cancer, as determined by a doctor, may need to begin screening earlier. Any woman, or man, who has symptoms or changes in their breasts should schedule an appointment with their doctor immediately. While very rare, it is possible for men to get breast cancer.
During the month of October, women over 40 are strongly encouraged to get their annual mammogram. There are walks and advertisements and pink ribbons to remind us of the importance of early detection through regular breast cancer screenings. But what if you don’t have health insurance to pay for these screenings?
Many women are faced with this question. In many cases they are left to choose between paying for medical testing or paying for their rent, mortgage, utilities or groceries. Therefore women often go without these lifesaving screenings due to a financial barrier. “Women should not go without breast cancer screenings due to lack of health insurance,” says Carrie Horton, coordinator of the Southern Tier Cancer Services Program. “This program can provide these screening services at no cost to the patient. Simply put, this program saves lives.”
Beth Park, 47, from Maine, N.Y. had health insurance through her work when she went for her annual mammogram. She received a call the following day asking that she return for further testing because there were abnormal findings. She had an ultrasound that showed two lumps that were soon biopsied. She returned to work the following day and was told she was being laid off. That afternoon she was told that one of the lumps tested positive and she had breast cancer. After hearing the news all she could think about was how she was being able to pay for treatment with no income and no health insurance.
The staff at her health care site told Beth about the Southern Tier Cancer Services Program and how this program offers free screenings, diagnostics and Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program (MCTP) application assistance for uninsured people. After a phone call, Beth met with Laura, a staff member of the Southern Tier Cancer Services Program. Together they completed the MCTP application and found that she was approved for full coverage during her breast cancer treatment.
Today, after her diagnosis, lumpectomy, and radiation treatments, Beth is cancer free. She is on Tamoxifen to help prevent the breast cancer from returning. She attends oncology visits and receives mammograms every six months. Beth strongly encourages other women to have their mammograms as recommended. She tells women about the Cancer Services Program if they do not have health insurance to cover the screenings. “The program is simple to use, the staff is very supportive, and it saves lives,” Beth explained. “Fear of financial burden after a diagnosis is the last thing you need to be worrying about when you learn you have cancer. This program can help!”
The Southern Tier Cancer Services Program is a program of the New York State Department of Health, providing breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings for New York State residents who do not have health insurance to pay for the services. The program covers every county in New York State. Individuals who are interested in participating in the program can be screened for eligibility over the phone.
Additional services are also available, including case management to help overcome barriers to attending appointments, annual reminder calls and medical provider referrals for those who have not established a health care site. If a client is diagnosed with any of these cancers through the program, the Cancer Services Program also offers assistance completing Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program applications to apply for health insurance coverage for the duration of the cancer treatment. This is also free to the eligible client.
“Regularly scheduled breast cancer screenings increases the chances that cancer is found in its earliest stages and the earlier the better. Great advances have been made in early detection and treatment of breast cancer, and many women diagnosed with the disease are living long, healthy lives,” said Horton.
The Southern Tier Cancer Services Program and the Broome County Health Department encourages businesses to offer paid leave to employees for cancer screenings. Having a paid leave policy is one way an employer can empower employees to be screened. By offering time off for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings as a benefit, employees have an incentive to have the screenings done. It also benefits the employer by diagnosing cancers at an early state when treatment is more effective and less costly than a later stage diagnosis. And most importantly, screening saves lives.
