According to The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the number of New Yorkers getting colon cancer screenings is higher than ever. This number has risen by more than 100,000 from 2014 to 2015.
More than 9,000 New Yorkers find out they have colorectal cancer every year. The disease claims nearly 3,000 lives each year.
Screening for colorectal cancer is paid for by most health plans, including Medicaid and health plans participating in NY State of Health, New York’s official health plan marketplace. The NYSDOH Cancer Services Program (CSP) offers free screening to eligible uninsured men and women in every county and borough in New York. To find a CSP near you, call 1-866-442-CANCER (2262) or visit this site.
Who Should Get Free Cancer Screenings?
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends initiating screening for colorectal cancer at age 50 years and continuing until age 75 years.
Certain individuals at a high risk of colorectal cancer should have screenings more often. We recommend starting before age 50. The following conditions make your risk higher than average:
- A personal history of rectal cancer or adenomatous polyps.
- A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease).
- A strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps.
- A known family history of hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or HNPCC).
Our goal at Statcare Urgent Medical Care is to reach 100% of eligible patients.
Click here to read more about colorectal cancer.
Walk-in to any of our clinics and let one of our providers know that you want a screening. No appointment is necessary at our clinics and the wait times are short. You can call ahead at (917) 310-3371 and let us know you’re on the way or you can check in online.
