Dear Editor
February is National Cancer Prevention Month. This is a month used to promote ways to prevent cancer, the importance of finding cancer early, and ways to lower the risk for cancer.
The Cancer Services Program (CSP) of North Country delivers cancer prevention services every day. The CSP provides free cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer screening for eligible New Yorkers who do not have health insurance. Unlike many cancers, cervical and colorectal cancer can be prevented with screening tests. Screening tests can find the cells that lead to cancer. These cells can be removed before cancer grows. Although breast cancer can’t be prevented with a screening test, a mammogram can find breast cancer early when it may be easier to treat.
In addition to getting cancer screenings, healthy behaviors like keeping a healthy weight, staying physically active, and choosing not to drink alcohol or to drink less, can lower your risk for many cancers.
Cancer screening may save lives, but people who are uninsured, who do not have a regular health care provider, or who have low incomes are less likely to get screened for cancer. The CSP provides free cancer screenings in Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson and St Lawrence counties to people ages 40 and older who do not have health insurance. The CSP will also help you find a health care provider.
If you are age 40 or older, call the CSP at 855-592-0830 to find out if you qualify for free cancer screenings.
Carolyn Handville
Program Manager
Cancer Services Program of North Country
855-592-0830
www.oco.org
missing or outdated ad config
