Senior Friendship Centers was recently honored by receiving a Susan G. Komen for the Cure grant to provide the Cancer Doesn’t Wait program. The Health and Wellness program is staffed by retired and volunteer physicians, nurses and health professionals who make a difference in the community by helping low income, uninsured seniors age 50+ receive preventative medical screenings, health education and information on community resources. This program would not be possible without many partnerships including Goodwill Industries and the United Way who provide space at the Hatton B.Rogers elder residential facility in North Fort Myers and at the Dunbar United Way House in Fort Myers. Our one part time paid staff is funded by United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties.
Senior Friendship Centers’ Cancer Doesn’t Wait program assists uninsured senior women in the community with getting their mammograms in a timely manner. Many women tend to let this test wait for a variety of reasons. Cancer Doesn’t Wait… But women with limited income cannot afford to pay for an exam and a mammogram. Along with other distractions, the lack of money keeps women from taking care of themselves.
The Cancer Doesn’t Wait program wants to stop this trend. The purpose is to make women aware of their health and wellness. The purpose is to keep women from waiting to get their mammogram, especially those that may not understand that it saves lives. The purpose is to stop breast cancer.
Our volunteer gynecologists see uninsured senior women ages 50-64. After a clinical breast exam and education on self care, a prescription for a screening mammogram is issued and the patient is scheduled. The results are reviewed by our doctors and it is decided whether they need continued care or just their annual mammogram in another year.
Our Health and Wellness Coordinator will be providing community education which will increase breast screening and self exam awareness to women who are at the highest risk of developing breast cancer and linking them to screening services. This program will provide over 50 patients their mammogram; that is over 50 women that would have otherwise gone without. Cancer Doesn’t Wait. For more information please contact Julie Ramirez at 656-0221.