Aliens And Cancer

No . . . not that kind of alien!

By "alien" what I really mean is any lawful or unlawful permanent resident,  virtually anyone who migrated to Washington within the last five years.  Aliens can get cancer too.  Many visas and statuses prevent immigrants from obtaining healthcare whether it is for cancer treatment or for treating the flue.  However, BCCHP is one of the few federal programs that offers free preventative services to illegal aliens or lawful aliens who do not qualify for free health insurance. 

Illegal aliens and immigrants living in Washington for less than five years do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.  Fortunately, BCCHP can use The Treatment Act of 2000 to provide Medicaid insurance coverage to any immigrant diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.  Naturally, it's free. 

What's Up Your Butt?

The defining reason why colorectal cancer is on the rise is the fact that signs and symptoms present as your typical upset stomach.  People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) often mistake their cancer symptoms for that of IBS, but that goes for everyone else as well.

This year the number of colorectal cancer cases appearing in the ER have notably increased, many of which the patient had no idea there was a tumor.  We can deduce from this that a small growth in the colon was dismissed by the patient as irritable bowels rather than seeking treatment for it.  However, when the tumor invades and deteriorates the intestinal lining the tumor becomes extremely aggressive, malignant, and metastatic; from which it is very difficult to treat.

Essentially, not every upset stomach means you have colorectal cancer, and not every tumor means you had a bad upset stomach for a while, and that's why we have screening procedures.  "Screenings"  are best described as routine examinations that survey colon health to determine if suspicious substances are present or not.  We have our own screening procedures that have successfully detected persons who would benefit from a colonoscopy and who can wait.

A FIT kit or FOBT kit are screening tools that allow each patient to go home and collect their own "sample" and securely send it back to the lab to test for blood.  If either test is Positive for blood we then suggest a colonoscopy to determine the source of the blood.  Any noticeable abnormalities like Polyps are removed during that procedure.  It also is the gold standard of detecting colon cancer.

Some people would rather not deal with anything to do with the "butt", BUTT let me ask you which is more uncomfortable:  A 20 minute colonoscopy or losing your colon - maybe your life?

If you are 50 years or older and do not have health insurance we may be able to provide you with a free colon cancer screening.  If you are 50 years or older and have health insurance - what are you waiting for?!

For further information regarding colon cancer screenings and procedures please feel free to call our office at 1-800-992-1817 ext. 1

Why Cancer Fighters Are Cooler Than You And Me

Just in time for Halloween!

Men and women dealing with cancer do not get a break from everything else in life.  They still have bills to pay, kids to feed, and work to get done. Here's why cancer fighters are cooler than you and me!

1. They have the best attitude EVER!




2. They can care less about your drama




3. In between chemo treatments and feeling like crap, they still go to work



4. They still wear makeup and look fabulous



5. They are epic fighters

Knowledge Is Power

Spread the word of cancer prevention

Nothing Wrong With Airing Out Our Colon

Saturday, October 25th, the ladies of BCCHP showed off their colon to everyone at Westfield Shopping mall.  Innocent bystanders were bribed to walk through the SUPER COLON with a prize.

The kids liked it more than the adults . . .

Phyllis and Kathleen sporting their colon cancer pride.  We certainly had more than enough education material!  The team handed out free colon cancer take home tests, or FIT tests, which are stool sample collecting tests that you do yourself and send back to us for testing.  FREE to those who qualify.

Interested in colon cancer testing?  Give us a call: 1800-9921817 ext. 1

Washington License Plates get a "pink" Makeover

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Washington state is debuting a pink breast cancer licence plate, and we have local breast cancer fighter Maureen to thank for it!

It's lovely!  And the best part is all the proceeds benefit the BCCHP!  In addition to Maureen's idea, we most certainly have to thank Monica Stonier for her work in getting this bill passed unanimously and for getting the job done so quickly.  Our own program coordinator, Kathleen, contributed to an article published in The Columbian earlier this week.  The article contains a link that shows you how and when you can get one of these fantastic plates!

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/oct/27/state-to-get-breast-cancer-license-plates/#

What is BCCHP?

We were around long before "Obamacare" and before "socialized" medicine was a bad thing

Happy 23rd Birthday!!!!


We're a national program with federal, state, and private funding

We prevent, diagnose, and treat breast, cervical, and colon cancers.  Remember: Breast. Cervical. Colon.

In SW Washington, we get grants from both Oregon and Seattle Komen Foundations specifically for diagnosing breast cancer in young women.

SW Washington BCCHP provides services to nine different counties.  There are several other BCCHP networks around the state, but ours is the best!  Each network is called a PRIME and is managed by an organization.  SW Washington's responsible parent organization is Peace Health.

Where would we send you for services?  Well, probably the closest health care facility to you.  No one is obligated to travel for BCCHP services.

We also make health care seem less scary.  By providing our free services to the uninsured or under insured health care will cost less in the long run and will provide better service delivery.  Clients won't be stuck with the bill or sidelined with strange, obscure fees.  It's 100% free to those who qualify.

It's not a big deal, we promise.


Having trouble getting health insurance?  Is the new health care policies confusing?  It's a good thing we know what we're doing then.  If you have any questions, comments, or need a little help finding the right direction for your health we've got people who can do that for you.

Have a health concern that's scaring you a bit?  Let us get you help.

For more information please visit the following websites:

http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Cancer/BreastCervicalandColonHealth

https://resources.parenthelp123.org/resources/wa-state-breast-cervical-colon-health-program

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/


To reach us directly:  1-800-992-1817 ext. 1

Who Qualifies for BCCHP?

Women 40 years and older may qualify for a free Well Woman's exam (Pap, Pelvic, and Breast exam) and a screening mammogram.

Men and women ages 50 and older may qualify for a free colorectal cancer screening (FIT kit).

Women ages 35 to 39 may qualify for a free breast exam and mammogram if they have a history of breast cancer or are experiencing symptoms of breast cancer.

In order to be enrolled in BCCHP all clients must have no or very little health insurance.  Income requirements also determine eligibility.  BCCHP is proud to serve SW Washington and will connect any client to the closest enrollment office.

For questions or enrollment in BCCHP please call:  1-800-992-1817 ext. 1


Thank you!

Even Super Woman Gets Cancer

There are too many SW Washington residents going without these days.  Thousands of people may have qualified for free health insurance and others may not have qualified and purchased their own insurance plan.  Then there are those trapped in the "donut hole" where they make too much money to qualify for free insurance and make too little to afford individual plans.

It's these people who are going to suffer the most in the future.  As the "working poor" their struggle to maintain a family, an income, and stability is constantly threatened.  On top of that, the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) suspects 266 women in this category will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone, and without health insurance.  Their survival rate is significantly altered compared to the state 95% 5 year survival rate due primarily to not catching the cancer soon enough.  If only they had regular screenings!  That, on the other hand, can be done at no cost to these women.

The Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program (BCCHP) was designed 20 years ago to provide preventative cancer screenings for the uninsured with preventing cancer cases and decreasing cancer mortality rates in mind.  Since the program's infancy, breast cancer survival rates in the state of Washington have increased by ten percent (85 - 95%).  Today we continue our preventative screenings in addition to diagnostic procedures and cancer treatment at no cost to patients.  There is a way to prevent cancer and it starts with routine screenings.  Now, working women, aka Super Women, can live longer, healthier lives.