Laura Takes Charge Of Her High Risk For Breast Cancer
When Laura, mother of two, felt a lump in her breast, she assumed her milk ducts were clogged. She was about to stop breastfeeding her infant son and knew mastitis was often a side effect. But the lump didnt go away. Two months later, she visited her gynecologist, who immediately sent her to Dr. Peter Naruns at El Camino Health for a biopsy.
In January 2017, Laura received a diagnosis of stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma that involved several lymph nodes. She was also found to be BRCA2 positive at very high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
I didnt think at all about cancer, recalls Laura. I thought it was just a clogged milk duct. There was no pain so I thought it would go away.
After the jolting diagnosis, things moved really fast. Dr. Naruns referred her to top oncologist, Dr. Shane Dormady, and his renowned team at El Camino Health. Laura and Dr. Dormady agreed on an aggressive treatment based on her age and stage. It would include chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation, menopausal hormone therapy, and eventually, when Laura is ready, she will undergo surgical menopause.
As Laura recalls, Dr. Dormady said, So that we have the best chance of beating this, Im going to throw it all at you, and we started with chemo right away to shrink the tumor.
Learn More About This Program Using These Related Links:
California Department of Health Services Cancer Detection Programs:
- Women with income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level
- Age 40 or over for breast cancer screening
- Age 25 or over for cervical cancer screening
- Not covered by Medi-Cal, Medicare, or other health insurance or cant afford share of cost
- Must live in California
Note: This website is for information and educational use only. It should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. If you need medical advice, see your health care provider.
Cancer Detection Program : Every Woman Counts
Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. is a CDP service provider. Call one of our health center locations for more information on services and assistance with eligibility and program application in both English and Spanish.
This program has been expanded to give low-income women access to screening and diagnostic services for breast and cervical cancer.
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Article 15 Breast And Cervical Cancer Treatment Program
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODESECTION 104160-104163
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
Treatment Continues But Life Doesnt Slow Down
Fast forward to present, Laura marvels that its been four years since her original diagnosis. Her son is now 5 and her daughter 9. Life continues on as it must with children, school, marriage and my research work.
Now at age 44, Laura has been put into menopause and is learning how to deal with that. I have the body of an older lady now. Chemotherapy and the hormone therapy have impacted my bone density. Im not as strong physically as I was before and need to start working out again regularly to build my muscles and bones back up, says Laura.
After four years, however, her cancer journey isnt over. Lauras treatment plan includes menopausal hormone therapy for a total of 10 years and regular check-ins with Dr. Dormady and his team. Laura is choosing to undergo a total hysterectomy with a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to further reduce her genetic cancer risk.
For the next few years, she will be relying on the support and the awesome experience she continues to have with El Camino Health.
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National Breast And Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast and cervical cancer early detection testing for low-income, underserved, under-insured, and uninsured women in the US.
This program is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . It provides funding in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 6 US territories, and 13 American Indian/Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations.
Screening services are mainly offered through non-profit groups and local health clinics. Through these NBCCEDP partners, women without health insurance, or with insurance that doesnt cover these tests, can get breast and cervical cancer testing for free or at very low cost.
The NBCCEDP tries to reach as many women in medically underserved communities as possible, including older women, women who are recent immigrants, and women who are members of racial and ethnic minorities. Services offered for breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnosis include:
- Clinical breast exams
- Diagnostic testing if results are abnormal
- Referrals for treatment
In addition to funding screening and diagnostic services for eligible women, the NBCCEDP works to find ways to increase high-quality breast and cervical cancer screening. These include helping health facilities put programs in place, connecting women to screening services in their community, and working with leaders to increase access to cancer screening.
Alabama Cervical Cancer Rates Diagnosis Remain Among Highest In Us
RN Debbie Werette gives Kaitlynn Palmer, 11, four vaccinations and a nasal spray flu vaccine on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, at the Genesse County Health Department in Burton. Palmer, who is now up to date on all her immunizations, received four shots including Tdap,a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine, Hepatitis A, a vaccine against the hepatitis A virus, Gardasil, an HPV vaccine, and a Meningococcal vaccine to prevent meningitis. Sam Owens | MLive.com Sam Owens | MLive.comSam Owens | MLive.com
Alabamas cervical cancer rates are some of the highest in the United States, but doctors say tools to effectively eliminate the disease already exist.
On average, about 7.5 out of 100,000 women in the United States have cervical cancer each year, but for Alabama women, that number jumps to 9.1 per 100,000, a new report from the Alabama Department of Public Health shows.
Alabamas cervical cancer incidence rate or the number of new cancers of a specific type ranked fifth worst in the country according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black women also are more likely than white women to develop cancer.
Read more: New Birmingham clinic offers simple solutions for morning sickness.
Almost all instances of cervical cancer are caused by the HPV virus a common sexually transmitted disease.
Tackling prevention and diagnosis
The World Health Organization classifies elimination of cervical cancer as:
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A Double Mastectomy Radiation And Breast Reconstruction
In August, Dr. Naruns performed a skin and nipple-sparing surgery to remove the affected breast tissue. To prepare for breast reconstruction after radiation, Lauras surgeons inserted temporary expanders to maintain breast shape in the absence of breast tissue.
One year after her diagnosis Laura was done with radiation and had permanent breast implant surgery. I had a pretty quick recovery, says Laura. I only needed two weeks off.
Swept Along On A Wave Of Care
A month later, Laura was visiting the treatment center at Mountain View regularly for a dose dense regimen of the chemotherapy drugs Adriamycin and Cytoxan with Taxol .
The Cancer Center at Mountain View is such a great environment nice, private and quiet, shares Laura. The nurses are outstanding, really knowledgeable. They knew how to help me with extra hydration and the right balance of meds to manage nausea. They get to know you and are so caring and supportive.
Also Check: What Is Dcis Breast Cancer
Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts
The California Department of Public Health offers Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts enrolls eligible women age 40 and older for breast cancer screening and diagnostic services.
The Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts provides free clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams and Pap tests to Californias underserved women.
Monday Friday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM
No Woman Should Die Of Cervical Cancer
This article can be found on page 5 of the publication PDF.
Vickie Burke WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
Morgantown, WV January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program , a program dedicated to helping low-income, uninsured, or underinsured women receive free or low-cost Pap tests, encourages women to schedule their Pap test during January or to talk with their health care provider about when it is right for them to be screened.
It is important to remember the significant role that the Pap test has played in reducing cervical cancer deaths. According to the American Cancer Society, the number of cervical cancer deaths decreased 70% between 1955 and 1992, and continues to decline each year due to increasing use of the Pap test. The Pap test can detect changes in the cervix before cancer develops and it can detect cancer in its earliest stages when more treatment options are available. Cervical cancer is nearly 100% curable when detected early.
Dont wait. Talk with your health care provider and schedule your Pap test today.
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Are You Or Someone You Know Eligible For The Every Woman Counts Program
Over the last 40 years, the number of cervical cancer cases has dropped dramatically worldwide.
That said, we still have work to do to empower women throughout California to take the steps needed to protect themselves from cervical cancer.
According to the American Medical Women’s Association, approximately 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed each year with cervical cancer and an estimated 4,000 women die unnecessarily from the disease. Regular Pap tests can save lives, and a vaccine approved in 2006 can largely prevent the virus responsible for the development of cervical cancer.
Due to legislation carried by state legislative Democrats, California law now requires insurance plans to cover any cervical cancer screening tests recommend by the federal government. As the HPV vaccine is recommended, it is covered.
In addition to the fact that insurance plans now cover the HPV vaccine, state law also created the Every Woman Counts Program that provides free clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams and Pap tests to California’s underserved women.
This Every Woman Counts Program could save lives, and I encourage you to share this new information with your friends and loved ones.
Every Woman Counts Program
The Department of Health Care Services, Every Woman Counts Program, provides eligible women with free breast and cervical cancer screening services, such as mammograms, clinical breast exams, Pap tests, and human papillomavirus tests .
- Live in California
Senate Leader Atkins Announces Expansion Of Treatment For Breast And Cervical Cancer
SAN DIEGO Backed by dozens of pink-clad supporters of womens health care, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins announced today that the state budget that took effect on July 1 includes funding for her bill, SB 945, which removes unreasonable caps on treatment under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program for low-income Californians.
- 1020 N Street, Room 250Sacramento, CA95814
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The 130th Annual Meeting Of Apha
Abstract #49163
Alison Marie Breen, BHA, Medi-Cal Benefits Branch, California Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 1640, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916/657-1096, , Miyoko Sawamura, Medi-Cal Eligiblity Branch, Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 1440, Sacramento, CA 95814, Kathleen Mintert, LCSW, Cancer Detection Section, Department of Health Services, 611 N. 7th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816, Jacquolyn Duerr, MPH, California Department of Health Services, Cancer Detection Section, 601 N 7th Street, MS-428, PO Box 942732, Sacramento, CA 94234, and Gene Hiehle, MA, Medical Care Statistics, Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 1743, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Breast Cancer Programs, Cervical Cancer
Presenting author’s disclosure statement:I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.