OCO’s Cancer Services Program and Upstate bring mobile mammography to Oswego Farmer’s Market Community partnership brings free cancer screening services to the farmer’s market

OSWEGO – OCO’s Cancer Services Program of the North Country coordinated Upstate’s Mobile Mammography Unit for the fifth annual mobile mammography screening event at the farmer’s market. The event was made possible through collaboration among the Chamber of Commerce, the Cancer Services Program of the North Country, and Upstate’s Mobile Mammography Unit and staff. “Access to breast cancer screening is essential to the health of our community, and I commend the organizations and staff whose collaboration made this event possible,” said Mayor Corradino.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among females in New York State.  Each year in New York, close to 18,000 females are diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 2,300 die from disease.  It is estimated that one in eight females will develop breast cancer during their life.

The Cancer Services Program (CSP) provides free breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings to uninsured men and women aged 40-64 throughout Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson and St Lawrence Counties.  Upstate’s Mobile Mammography Unit is one of over 80 medical providers that are contracted to provide medical services through the CSP of the North Country.

“Bringing screening services directly into the community helps reduce barriers to care and ensures that more people can access timely, potentially lifesaving screenings. Partnerships like this are essential to making that possible,” said Carolyn Handville, Cancer Services Program Manager.

Administered by OCO, the Cancer Services Program of the North Country provides free cancer screenings to qualifying community members who are uninsured and between 40 and 64 years of age.  For more information on the Cancer Services Program Partnership of the North Country call 855-592-0830 or visit OCO’s website at www.oco.org and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/oco.free.cancer.screenings.

Established in March 1966, OCO was designated as Oswego County’s Community Action Agency with the original intent of lifting people out of poverty.  For the past 60 years OCO has been the safety net for Oswego County. Each year, nearly 25,000 people are served through more than 50 programs including assistance for the homeless, educational services, safety for the abused, support for youth, crisis services, transportation for all health education services, meals and nutritional guidance for the elderly, disabled and youth, and independence and support for the disabled. Oswego County Opportunities, “60 Years of Action. A Lifetime of Impact.”