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Cancer Services Program of Lewis & Jefferson Counties
Ellon Grunert, Coordinator

Telephone: (315) 376-5454 or TOLL FREE: 1-877-449-6626
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PM

OVERVIEW:
The Cancer Services Program of Lewis & Jefferson is a state-funded program formed to provide free breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings to low income women and men aged 40 and over. It is a division of the New York State Cancer Services Partnership Program. The program, formerly The Healthy Women’s Partnership and later known as Wellness Connection, was formed in 1998. Through federal and state funding, the Department of Health has provided over 350,000 mammograms statewide. You can access a listing of all the programs by county through the NYS DOH link on this page.

Our program provides cancer screening services to approximately 1300 clients annually in Lewis and Jefferson Counties. We collaborate with about 80 providers including all area hospitals and mammography sites, and most local OB/GYN’s and healthcare providers. There is no cost to the consumer for our program, however some charges may be generated for testing not covered.

Simply call our office to sign up for the program. After a short screening process, information is taken and a benefit card is sent to present to your own provider for the screening tests we cover. You make your own appointments and we get the bills. Then call us each time before you use your card. If you are uninsured, covered services are paid in full. We work with Medicare and most insurances if they have a high deductible or if screenings are not covered. (Your insurance must be billed first.) Medicaid (unless there is a large spend down) and Family Health Plus recipients are not eligible.

EVERY MONTH IS A CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Breast and Cervical Cancer:
Clients 40 and older are eligible for clinical breast exams, pap smears and mammograms and breast ultrasounds on a case by case basis.

Our screening population is women and men aged 40 and older living at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines who have no health insurance or whose insurance does not adequately cover services. One percent of men are diagnosed with breast cancer.

We cover diagnostic testing for breast and cervical cancer if screening shows a need.

We are funded by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure CNY Affiliate to provide breast cancer screening and diagnostic testing for women age 40 to 49.

Uninsured clients who are diagnosed through our program are eligible to apply for the Breast, Cervical and Colorectal Cancer Treatment Act by meeting with an enroller from our office.

Colorectal and Prostate Cancer:
We offer colorectal screening kits to eligible under- and uninsured men and women age 50 and over who are at average risk. These Fecal Occult Blood kits are done at home and mailed to our office for processing at the hospital lab.

Clients with positive results from a kit and individuals at increased or high risk (according to CSP Guidelines) are eligible for a consultation with a surgeon and further testing if recommended.

Our program also provides prostate education and access to funding for treatment of prostate cancer.

Call us for materials and/or a presentation to your business or organization
or if you would like us to attend an event.

Cancer Services Program of Lewis & Jefferson Participating Providers - Click Here
(Accurate as of the time of publishing online)

» View the Jefferson County Community Resources Guide
(PDF, File size: 156 KB)

Useful links:
General - American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org

Jefferson Co. Public Health: http://www.co.jefferson.ny.us/Jefflive.nsf/public_h

Glossary of Terms: www.chemotherapy.com/glossary/terms.jsp

Breast - NYS DOH: www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/cancer/center/partnerships.htm
     http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/cancercontacts/nbccedp/contacts.asp 
     http://breastcancer.about.com
     www.thebreastcancersite.com
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Assoc.: www.ibchelp.org
    
     Susan G. Komen for the Cure CNY Affiliate

Hospitals - Lewis County General: www.lcgh.net
River Hospital: www.riverhospital.org
Samaritan Medical Center: www.samaritanhealth.com
Carthage Area Hospital: www.carthageareahospital.com

Clinics - Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic: www.ewbc.com
Planned Parenthood: www.ppnny.org

Mammography sites:
     Watertown Breast Imaging
     Woman to Woman: www.samaritanhealth.com/womantowoman.asp
     Northern Radiology Imaging: www.nrimaging.com