Prevent Cancer Foundation® Assists "See, Test & Treat®" In Diagnosing 33 Percent Of Appalachian Patients With Treatable Diagnoses

NORTHFIELD, Ill., Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One out of every three women at a recent "See, Test & Treat" program in southwest Virginia was diagnosed with abnormal test results and received treatment at no cost within days, according to the College of American Pathologists Foundation and the Prevent Cancer Foundation®. Medical professionals administered almost 350 services at Norton Community Hospital on Aug. 5.

"Appalachia has demonstrated the power of collaboration within the medical community, and the overwhelmingly positive results that are achieved when a community comes together," said Carolyn Aldigé, President and Founder of the Prevent Cancer Foundation®.  "Well over 300 medical services were provided for residents who lack access to basic health care that we all deserve. This event potentially saved multiple lives and offered a path to a healthier lifestyle for so many underserved women and their families."

The event brought together more than 100 volunteers from Norton Community and Mountain View hospitals and their parent companies, Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System. Each patient received a personal registered nurse escort for the day to provide guidance and to answer any medical or logistical questions about the several services provided.

"These results are stunning, but not surprising. With so many barriers to health care, including great distances and inability to take a day off of work, this is what happens in a community," said Theresa Emory, MD, FCAP, the lead pathologist for the Norton Community Hospital event, and a member of the CAP Foundation's Board of Directors. "But when a neighbor lends a hand, and families are involved, communities themselves get healthier. We see that so often with See, Test & Treat and we are proud to have provided much-needed help in Appalachia."

See, Test & Treat is the flagship program of the CAP Foundation. It offers free breast and cervical screening for at-risk women, in addition to such other services as blood pressure screening, flu shots and important health education for women, their families and their communities. Test results are all provided the same day and if treatment is needed, an immediate care plan is designed and provided by doctors and affected patients.

In an effort to promote screening, vaccination and treatment of certain viruses as a cancer prevention tool, the CAP Foundation partnered with the Think About the Link® campaign to offer a unique education experience to women in the Appalachian Virginia area.  Think About the Link® is an education campaign developed by the Prevent Cancer Foundation® to increase awareness of the link between the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C and the many cancers they can cause.

The goals of the program are simple: to provide health care professionals and at-risk groups access to the latest information related to viruses and cancers, bring culturally-appropriate cancer prevention education materials and screenings directly to communities in need, and foster a dialogue between patients and health care professionals. 

The Appalachian region has the highest cancer mortality rate in the nation, perhaps as the result of late-stage cancer diagnoses. This event was located in rural southwest Virginia and drew patients from five counties spanning 2,224 square miles.

Local sponsors included: K-VA-T Food Stores/Food City, Wellmont Health System, Mountain States Health Alliance, Plastic Surgery Specialists, the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia-Wise.

Other services offered at the event included HPV testing, blood pressure screenings, flu shots, skin cancer checks, bone density testing and genetic testing.

About Think About the Link®
Think About the Link® focuses on three viruses that can lead to cancer: HPV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The campaign travels the country to increase awareness of the link between these viruses and cancer, increase immunization rates for HPV and hepatitis B, and increase awareness of and access to treatment for hepatitis C.  The ultimate goal of Think About the Link® is to prevent virally-induced cancers. Learn more at thinkaboutthelink.org.

About The Prevent Cancer Foundation®
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is one of the nation's leading voluntary health organizations and the only U.S. nonprofit focused solely on saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence and fulfills its mission through research, education, outreach and advocacy. Learn more at preventcancer.org or follow on Twitter at @preventcancer.

About the College of American Pathologists and CAP Foundation
As the world's largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For more information, read the CAP Annual Report at cap.org.

The CAP Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the College of American Pathologists, supports patient-centered and humanitarian initiatives led by pathologists, striving to connect people in underserved communities with the specialized skills of pathologists. CAP Foundation funding for See, Test & Treat is made possible through the continued generous support of CAP member pathologists, staff, foundations, industry, and private donations. In 2017, See, Test & Treat is generously being supported by organizations such as CVS Health, Hologic, Inc., and the Prevent Cancer Foundation®. Learn more and donate: foundation.cap.org. Contact the CAP Foundation [email protected] or follow us on Twitter at @capfndn.

SOURCE College of American Pathologists

Related Links

http://www.cap.org