Cervical-Cancer Screening Supported by $100K Grant

BANGOR, Maine July 21—A generous grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation will support a new cervical screening program, making exams and pap smears—potentially life-saving procedures–readily available as part of primary care.

Penobscot Community Health Care, which serves 60,000 Mainers, announced this week that the $100,000, two-year grant will support development of the program at four of its primary care practices.

“Cervical screening is not only incredibly important in the detection and prevention of cancer—it’s easily accomplished during routine primary care visits,” said Susan Cheff, MD, PCHC’s executive clinical director for primary care. “Patients do not have to seek specialty care for pap smears. Their primary care provider can do this exam when they are there for their annual wellness visit. The difference we can make with early detection of disease is tremendous.”

Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. However, in the past 40 years, the case numbers and resulting deaths have both dramatically decreased, largely the result of many women getting regular pap tests, which can find precancerous lesions before they develop into cancer. Other diseases and conditions can also be found through these exams, which do not have to be provided by gynecological specialists.  Most insurance carriers, including MaineCare, reimburse for cervical exams.

“Maine Cancer Foundation is proud to support Penobscot Community Health with this grant to increase access to cervical cancer screening for Mainers,” said Katelyn Michaud, MCF’s Director of Grantmaking. “Our organizations have had a longstanding successful partnership to reduce cancer in Maine and we look forward to our continued work together.”

Under this project, initially at PCHC’s clinics in Brewer, Winterport, Bangor and Old Town, “provider champions” will advocate for pap tests in primary care and act as peer coaches with fellow providers. They will also provide exams for patients who request female-only screeners, but have male providers.  Other team members will help patients facing barriers to this care (concern about insurance, unfamiliarity with the procedure, or other impediments to access) and communicate with patients due or overdue for cervical screening.

ABOUT MAINE CANCER FOUNDATION:
Maine Cancer Foundation is dedicated to reducing cancer incidence and mortality rates in Maine. 100% of funds raised by the Foundation are used to benefit the people of Maine. MCF leads a statewide effort to advance the most promising and effective cancer-fighting efforts available to the people of Maine through a combination of grant-based financial support and coalition building.

For more information about Maine Cancer Foundation please visit www.mainecancer.org
Press contact: Brian McKeown, 
brian@mainecancer.org(207) 773-2533

Many cancers can be prevented by or detected through regular primary care. PCHC’s annual Over the Edge fundraiser, scheduled for Sept. 16-17 this year, is dedicated to this cause.

About Penobscot Community Health Care

Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1997 to ensure access to comprehensive, integrated primary health care services for all to improve the health and wellbeing of patients and the Maine communities served. Seventeen practices and program service sites in the Bangor area, and in Belfast and Jackman, offer a wide range of services, including family medicine, dental, pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, medication assisted treatment and substance use disorder services, urgent/walk-in care services, as well as specialty services such as speech, audiology and chiropractic services, retail and primary care pharmacy, and healthcare for unhoused people. Online at www.pchc.com.

ABOUT MAINE CANCER FOUNDATION:
Maine Cancer Foundation is dedicated to reducing cancer incidence and mortality rates in Maine. 100% of funds raised by the Foundation are used to benefit the people of Maine. MCF leads a statewide effort to advance the most promising and effective cancer-fighting efforts available to the people of Maine through a combination of grant-based financial support and coalition building.

For more information about Maine Cancer Foundation please visit www.mainecancer.org
Press contact: Brian McKeown, 
brian@mainecancer.org(207) 773-2533