THT Offers FREE Cancer Screeenings Every Friday During Cervical Health Awareness Month
by Trenton Health Team is providing free cancer screenings through the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection program, including tests for cervical cancer that have been credited in reducing both deaths and incidence of the disease.
January is cervical health awareness month and THT will be hosting cancer screenings every Friday at various locations throughout greater Trenton. This year, according to cancer.net, an estimated 13,170 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer — with 4,250 deaths from the disease will occur. See story in TrentonDaily
“Cervical cancer is preventable,” said Samantha Anderson, THT Community Nurse Practitioner. “Spending about half an hour at a screening can save your life.”
Both incidence rates for the disease and death rates dropped by nearly 50% between 1975 and 2016 due in part to an increase in screening, which can help detect abnormal (changed) cells early, before they turn into cancer. Most deaths from cervical cancer could be prevented by regular screenings and follow-up care.
SCREENING IS FREE FOR ELIGIBLE PATIENTS. SIGN-UP REQUIRED. CALL 609-888-6189.
This month, THT will host screenings on Fridays at these locations.
Jan. 17 at Trenton Division of Health offices, 218 N. Broad Street in Trenton
Jan. 24 at Capital Health Regional Medical Center, 750 Brunswick Ave. Trenton
Jan 31 at Pennsauken Diagnostic Center at Hamilton, 1245 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite 403
THT partners with Henry J. Austin Health Center, Capital Health, the City of Trenton and Pennsauken Diagnostic Center to provide services including education, outreach, early detection, case management, screening, tracking, and follow-up. The state Department of Health’s NJCEED program pays for not only cervical cancer screening, but also additional diagnostic testing. Patients diagnosed with cervical cancer are automatically enrolled in Medicaid to cover treatment costs.
To be eligible for these services, persons must live in Mercer County, have an income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level and be uninsured or under-insured.
Community organizations serving this population can connect clients with screening by calling 609-888-6189 or referring to THT through the NowPow platform which enables tracking and follow-up on referrals.
