Closing the care gap means striving to remove barriers to cancer screening and treatment, something the Cancer Services Program (CSP) of the North Country does every day. People who are uninsured, without a regular health care provider, and with low incomes are less likely to get screened for cancer. The CSP provides free breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening for eligible New Yorkers who do not have health insurance. The CSP will also help with finding a health care provider and enrollment into the New York State Medicaid Treatment Program, if treatment is needed.

Getting screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer may save lives. Unlike many cancers, cervical and colorectal cancer can be prevented through screening. Screening tests can find the cells that lead to cancer. These cells can be removed before cancer grows. Although breast cancer can’t be prevented with screening, a mammogram can find breast cancer early when it may be easier to treat.

If you are age 40 or older and do not have health insurance, call the CSP at 855-592-0830 to find out if you qualify for free cancer screenings. It might be the most important call you make of the New Year.