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Dec
21

Patient services

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Service areas

Public Health — Seattle & King County is the service provider for Clallam, Jefferson, King and Kitsap counties.

If you live outside these counties, check the Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program Delivery Map from the Washington State Dept. of Health for services in your county.

Cancer screenings

The Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program (BCCHP) helps eligible clients get screened for cancer and access treatment to those who are uninsured and have breast and cervical cancer.

To find out if you qualify, call our program referral line at 1-800-756-5437 or visit the Community Health Access Program (CHAP) phone assistance service website to learn more at kingcounty.gov/chap

When you should get screened for...

Breast cancer

Mother and daughter with pink ribbon representing early detection with breast cancer screening

  • Breast cancer screening is recommended at ages 40-74
  • At age 40 talk to a medical provider about when and how often to have a breast cancer screening
  • Men and trans men and women should discuss personal risk with a medical provider and get screened accordingly
  • If there is a family or personal history of cancer, talk with a medical provider

Cervical cancer

Two women with a green ribbon representing early detection with cervical cancer screening

  • For women ages 21-29, a Pap test alone is recommended every 3 years
  • For women ages 30-64, either a HPV/Pap co-test every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years is recommended
  • Trans men should discuss personal risk with a medical provider
  • If there is a family or personal history of cancer, talk with a medical provider

Colon cancer

Wife and husband with blue ribbon representing early detection with colon cancer screening

The program no longer pays for screenings however colon cancer screening is recommended for all adults ages 45-75.

  • At age 50, a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is recommended every year
  • A colonoscopy is recommended as prescribed by a medical provider
  • If there is a family or personal history of cancer, talk with a medical provider

Qualifications for a free screening

  • Adults who meet the above recommendations can receive breast and cervical cancer screening up until age 65 unless you are not eligible for Medicare.
  • Adults who have a family history of cancer may qualify for screenings before the recommended ages
  • People with either low income, lack of health insurance, or a high deductible may qualify. Call our program referral line at 1-800-756-5437 or visit the Community Health Access Program (CHAP) website.

Patient story

After experiencing pain in her breasts, a young woman decided to make an appointment with her clinic for a mammogram. At only 36 years old, she was anxious about the possibility of cancer. At the clinic that day, she received both a mammogram and an ultrasound. The results came back as "Probably Benign", but her health care provider thought it would be a good idea to follow up later in the year.

Several months later, the woman returned to the clinic and learned that her results had progressed to "Suspicious". Her provider reviewed the results and recommended that a biopsy be conducted. The patient's anxiety grew. She knew she needed the biopsy; however, she was still struggling to pay off the mammogram from January. With a high health insurance deductible of $7,050, she felt as though she could not afford another test that insurance would not cover.

I have student loan debt, credit card debt, a $1,250 rental home, among other bills such as food, gas, phone internet, and medical bills that are growing due to the newly discovered breast diagnosis," she stated. "On top of this, I just moved and had to liquidate the remaining retirement to cover moving costs. Therefore, I have no additional support to tap into."

Woman experience chest pain on breast

She continues: "I do not have family that can help cover these costs, so I am feeling tremendously overwhelmed and frustrated. My insurance deductible is $7,050 and that is the cheapest healthcare I can afford."

While figuring out how she was going to pay for her treatment, the patient learned about BCCHP. She reached out and the program determined she was eligible for support. BCCHP could cover whatever her insurance did not. "I am grateful for anything you can do. So much!" she exclaimed, relieved.

She has since completed the recommended diagnostic tests and is scheduled for a procedure to remove the pre-cancerous tissue. BCCHP was able to cover the costs of her tests, which helped find and treat her pre-cancer diagnosis early.

Additional resources

  • American Cancer Society
    Provides health education, cancer information and more.
    • Phone: 1-800-227-2345 National Cancer Helpline; stay online for language translator support
  • CANCERcare
    A national nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide free professional support services to anyone affected by cancer: people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones, and the bereaved.
  • Cancer Lifeline
    Offers a wide range of programs, support groups, financial assistance, classes, activities and presentations aimed at optimizing the quality of life for cancer patients and cancer survivors and their families, friends, co-workers and caregivers. All services free of charge.
    • Phone: 206-297-2100, 206-297-2500, 1-800-255-5505
  • Cook for Your Life
    Food is an important and often challenging part of the cancer experience – which is why Cook for your Life exists. We are the only free bilingual cooking resource teaching healthy eating to people affected by cancer
  • Cancer Pathways
    Offers programs of education, support and community options for people living with cancer along with their families and friends.
    • Phone: 206-709-1400, 866-200-2383
  • Crisis Connections
    Helping Lives on the Line and 211 and other resources available in multiple languages.
    • Phone: 1-866-4CRISIS (427-4747) for 24-hour assistance for people with emotional crisis
    • Phone: 1-800-621-4636 for 211 Community Information online available from 8 am - 6 pm
  • EthnoMED
    Culture, language, health, illness and community resources directly accessible to health care providers who see patients from different ethnic groups.
  • Hopelink
    Serves homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities, promoting self-sufficiency for all members of the community. Transportation to medical appointments is provided to all Medicaid patients in King County.
    • Phone: 1-800-923-7433
  • Living Beyond Breast Cancer
    Cancer Survivors Help Line: 888-753-5222
  • National Cancer Institute
    Health and cancer education materials, help with quitting smoking, librarians can answer questions about cancer. Spanish-speakers available.
    • Phone: 1-800-4-CANCER, (1-800-422-6237)
  • Cancer resources from MedlinePlus, National Institutes of Health
    Includes a dictionary of cancer terms and more. See information on chemotherapy.
  • College of American Pathologists
    Information about the disease, treatment options, key terms, pictures of normal and diseased tissue, questions to ask your doctor.
  • Cancer Genetic Counseling Resources
    • Swedish Hospital Medical Center – Hereditary Cancer Clinic
      • 1221 Madison, Suite 1220, Seattle, WA 98104
      • Phone: 206-215-4377 for appointments
    • University of Washington Medical Center – Medical Genetics Clinic
      • 1959 NE Pacific, Seattle, WA 98195
      • Phone: 206-598-4030
  • Operation Uplift
    Provides no-cost support groups, prosthesis, wigs, head coverings, mammogram vouchers and limited financial assistance for transportation.
    • 118 N. Liberty St. Port Angeles, WA 98362
      Phone: 360-457-5141 (Limited hours, call first)
  • Patient Advocate Foundation
    National non-profit that uses case managers and healthcare attorneys to act as a liaison for complex situations between patients and insurers, employers, creditors, etc. (Clinics should help first with simpler problems).
    • Phone: 800-532-5274
  • Partnership for Prescription Assistance
    Access to over 475 prescription assistance programs, covering more than 2500 medications
    • Phone: 888-477-2669
  • Washington Prescription Discount Program
    Open to all Washington state residents who do not have prescription drug insurance coverage or whose insurance does not cover all of their prescription drug needs.
    • Phone: 888-913-4146 or apply online
  • RX Outreach
    Provides prescription drug assistance for clients based on income and number of dependents living in their home.
    • Phone: 1-888-796-1234
  • NeedyMeds
    A national non-profit helping people locate assistance programs to help them afford their medications and other healthcare costs.

Breast and cervical cancer in the news

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