Cancer Prevention: Empowering and Serving Promote Health. Prevent Cancer. (PHPC) – In partnership with UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute, the Promote Health. Prevent Cancer. initiative empowers participants throughout 27 counties to make and maintain changes in diet, physical activity and exposures, helping lower the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Virtual Health Classes and Talks Empower Participants During Pandemic. • A total of 9 virtual eight-week nutrition and physical activity programs offered since January, with participants joining virtually from 10 counties. 17 more programs are planned through the end of 2021. Participant numbers are projected to more than double this year. • Class topics are also offered as individual one-hour presentations. These health talks, given by members of our PHPC team, are available for community groups, corporate retreats, places of worship and more. 5 one-hour wellness talks have been presented so far in 2021. Interested in learning more? Please contact our team at (585) 738-5539 or email us at PHPC@urmc.rochester.edu.
Eileen Malloy Desormeaux, PHPC participant, Episcopal SeniorLife Communities Neighborhood Program Member “The Promote Health. Prevent Cancer. program really demonstrated how small changes can have a big impact. I now think of ‘good food’ as being delicious and good for my body, not something that’s sweet or full of fat.”
Cancer Services Program of the Finger Lakes Region (CSP-FLR):
National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer (NAPBC)
Counties served: Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca and Yates October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020, 417 patients were enrolled in and screened under CSP-FLR.
Between August 2020 and March 2021, NAPBC, a grant through Health Research Incorporated and the New York State (NYS) Department of Health, had a 78% completion rate for breast cancer screenings. Hannah Hare, patient navigator for NAPBC, works with women to address barriers that may prevent them from getting screened, including transportation, child care or scheduling.
CSP-FLR works with more than 200 healthcare providers and facilities throughout the Finger Lakes to provide breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings at no cost for uninsured men and women.
Screening Rates for Colorectal Cancer Increased in All 6 Counties. Proactive Planning Increases Annual Use of FIT Test Kits. For the past year, the CSP-FLR team has worked to increase the percent of clients re-screened for colorectal cancer annually, using a FIT (fecal immunochemical test) kit. After implementing a new process, the percent of clients re-screened increased from 9% to 22% within 10 months. Community Cancer Education and Free Screening Days. From October 2020 through March 2021, CSP-FLR staff reached 332 individuals with important breast, cervical and colorectal cancer prevention education. Webinars, group and one-to-one education, as well as breast cancer screening days, were offered to community members and regional partners.