As a training gastroenterologist, I see the various limitations that ladies have to beat to get three separate most cancers screenings. That’s why I developed PINK PLUS® — to make it simpler for ladies to get these life-saving screenings.
PINK PLUS is a most cancers screening program that I developed to supply ladies with the chance to get three most cancers screenings at one go to. Patients can come to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH) and have a routine gynecology examination, a mammogram, after which a short go to to evaluate colorectal most cancers screening choices.
The PINK PLUS Program: One-stop go to to display for a number of cancers
When I used to be in coaching to turn into a gastroenterologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, colonoscopies have been a reasonably new process, and other people weren’t used to getting them. In truth, the primary colonoscopy within the Seventies took greater than 4 hours to finish. Over time, gastroenterologists turned extra skilled. Today, colonoscopies are very protected, and so they have turn into the usual take a look at to display for colorectal most cancers.
I knew the statistics round most cancers screenings: extra folks die from colorectal most cancers than breast most cancers whenever you mix statistics for women and men. Despite this truth, ladies usually tend to get their mammogram and pap smear than their colonoscopy. In truth, 81 % of girls see their gynecologist yearly whereas solely 60 % of girls get their colon screened. I needed to alter these numbers and I noticed a chance to take action: one-stop go to to display for a number of cancers.
Colorectal most cancers is the second most typical reason for cancer-related demise within the United States amongst women and men mixed. Many ladies mistakenly consider that it’s a person’s illness (and could also be extra embarrassed to speak about it than males), however the statistics present that it’s certainly not a person’s illness. For a girl, the lifetime danger of growing colorectal most cancers is 4.3 % for males and 4.0 % for ladies.
Meeting Women Where They Are
Jefferson has an attractive Breast Imaging Center, so I steered that we put aside one night per week once we may deliver a gynecologist to the Center and be a part of me to supply a novel program. Women would get their mammogram and pap smear, after which I’d discuss to them about their colorectal most cancers screening choices. My expertise has proven me (and research affirm) that ladies usually tend to get their colonoscopy when a session is bundled with one other most cancers screening examination similar to a mammogram.
In truth, lack of physician suggestion has been cited as a barrier to colonoscopy screenings. By including a short session with a gastroenterologist throughout your go to to the Breast Imaging Center, you possibly can find out about colorectal most cancers dangers and what screening exams can be found (together with a colonoscopy, stool exams, and different decisions). You will even be suggested at what age you need to start screening primarily based in your private medical historical past and your loved ones historical past of colon polyps, colorectal most cancers, and different situations that have an effect on the advice.
Removing Barriers to Good Health Care
It might be difficult to maintain up with most cancers screenings, particularly for ladies. They should schedule three separate appointments for a pap smear, mammogram, and colonoscopy. Aside from the funding in time, they’ve to think about value, transportation, language limitations, affected person training, lack of medical insurance, and childcare.
One of the key advantages of the PINK PLUS program is that it makes most cancers screenings extra accessible for all ladies, particularly underserved ladies. The comfort of a one-stop go to to display for a number of cancers with day and night hours is useful for ladies of all socioeconomic and academic backgrounds.
How to Make an Appointment
PINK PLUS appointments are at the moment held at 1100 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, with extra places coming quickly. Appointments can be found through the day or night. Make your well being a precedence and name 1-800-JEFF-NOW (1-800-533-3669) to schedule your appointment right this moment!