FULTON, NY – In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Oswego County Opportunity’s Cancer Services Program Partnership is reaching out to hairdressers throughout Oswego County to help them raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of receiving mammograms and breast exams.
According to the American Cancer Society, in Oswego County 13 individuals are diagnosed with cancer every week and 5 individuals will lose their battle to cancer weekly.
During the month of October, OCO’s Cancer Services Program Partnership, which is funded by the NYS Department of Health and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is offering women with limited or no health insurance the opportunity to receive free mammograms and breast exams.
Coordinator of OCO’s Cancer Services Program Partnership, Carolyn Handville is excited about the program and is recruiting hairdressers to assist in helping her spread the word on the importance of regular cancer screenings.
“The month of October is an excellent time for us to educate women on the risks of breast cancer and impressing upon them that having annual mammograms is an important part of maintaining good health,†said Handville. “All women 40 and over should have an annual mammogram and clinical breast exam as they are effective tools in detecting breast cancer in its early stage and have been successful in reducing overall cancer and mortality. Early detection is the best protection.â€Â
“We have chosen to reach out to hairdressers as they serve on the front line, making women in our community feel better about themselves while serving as a sounding board for all the good and all of the bad things happening in their customers’ lives. We are providing participating hairdressers with special aprons and tote bags that promote the Cancer Services Program Partnership and serve as conversation starters. We are also providing program cards and other promotional items that they can give their customers to help spread the word about this wonderful program, said Handville.
The Cancer Services Program Partnership/The Breast Health Program of Oswego County provides FREE cancer screenings including clinical breast exams, mammograms, pap/pelvic exams and colorectal cancer screenings to community members who are either under-insured or uninsured and are 40 years of age and older.
“We do not want any man or woman to delaying completing their annual cancer screenings due to a lack of health insurance coverage,†added Handville.
Since early detection is the best protection, representatives from OCO’s Cancer Services Program Partnership will be offering not only free mammograms and breast examinations to those with limited or no health insurance, but also conducting free prize raffles on the following dates in October:
October 8 from 1 to 4 p.m., October 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and October 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Fulton Medical Imaging (FMI), Suite 200, 522 S. Fourth St., Fulton.
October 16 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Pulaski Health Center (NOCHSI), 61 Delano St., Pulaski.
October 14 and 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Oswego Hospital, 110 W. Sixth St., Oswego.
For more information on OCO’s Cancer Services Program Partnership, or to schedule an appointment for a cancer screening, call Kayleigh Dix at 342-0888 ext. 1454.
OCO is a private, non-profit agency that has been supporting communities throughout Oswego County since 1966 and touches the lives of more than 20,000 people annually.
OCO is a United Way of Greater Oswego County member agency.
For more information, visit www.oco.org
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