QUESTION
Council Member Schulman Inquires About Colon Cancer Screenings with Dr. Morse
0:41:33
·
5 min
Council Member Lynn Schulman questions Dr. Michelle Morse about colon cancer screening initiatives, focusing on accessible methods like stool tests and patient navigator programs, especially for communities of color. Schulman emphasizes the importance of meeting patients where they are in terms of healthcare accessibility and standards. Dr. Morse outlines the DOH's efforts through the C5 coalition, aimed at reducing colon cancer mortality by increasing screenings and discusses challenges faced by individuals with unstable housing or employment in accessing regular screenings.
Speaker 2
0:41:33
In terms of colon cancer that you mentioned, just describe for me sort of what you guys are doing in terms of getting people screened.
0:41:45
So one, I didn't know there's colonoscopies, but There are also measures that can be taken.
0:41:51
There are these new tests now and things like that.
0:41:54
Is there a way that we can help the Department of Health get some of these for women, at least for an initial assessment, and then go from there.
0:42:02
I mean, I want to you know, for me, And I'm part of, as you said, healthy NYC, and we codified that that plan in legislation I'm gonna say something now.
0:42:14
I'm I'm a lazy patient.
0:42:15
Alright?
0:42:16
So I am.
0:42:20
But that doesn't mean I don't care about my health.
0:42:22
I just we have to make we have to establish protocols and standards where, you know, people get up in the morning, they go to work, they come home, basically, and being very basic here.
0:42:35
But we need to meet people where they are and try to get them something that at least can move them forward.
0:42:43
Not everybody has a primary care physician, that's a whole other issue that I'm not going to dress today.
0:42:48
And so just tell me sort of what you guys are envisioning for that.
Speaker 4
0:42:54
Thank you for that, Cherish Shelman.
0:42:56
And Mhmm.
0:42:57
I wasn't aware of your diagnosis.
0:42:58
But thank you for sharing that personal experience.
0:43:01
And I do wanna also just mention my team just shared that we had 14 events for the breast mammography van back in December of last year.
0:43:11
So we are happy to share more information about that and follow-up with you.
0:43:15
For colon cancer, specifically.
0:43:18
We have for over 20 years now led a coalition called C5 coalition.
0:43:24
That coalition's focus, it brings together healthcare organizations, cancer, specialty centers, researchers, health department staff, and really tries to look at population health level interventions to reduce mortality from colon cancer and to increase screening because timely screening is so lifesaving as you highlighted.
0:43:47
For colon cancer, the recommendations are that anyone between age forty five and eighty five are screened.
0:43:54
And there are multiple methods for screening as you described, including stool tests in addition to actually having a colonoscopy.
0:44:02
Part of what we try to do when it comes colon cancer access is we actually have patient navigator programs as well around cancer care.
0:44:11
And the RFP that we use to try to engage community partners and fund community partners around cancer specifically.
0:44:22
Focused again on the neighborhoods that have the highest cancer mortality.
0:44:26
So part of the way that we also do the screenings is by educating providers.
0:44:31
As you're probably aware, some of the providers, it can be hard as a as a physician to keep up with the changing guidance.
0:44:40
So we also do public health detailing where we go out to primary care practice this is all across the city and specifically in the neighborhoods that have some of the most unfair health outcomes.
0:44:51
And we talk with those providers and give them patient education materials in multiple languages, and also give them other information about the updated screening.
0:45:00
Right?
0:45:01
Recommendations.
0:45:02
Now even with all of that, as you described, it can be very difficult, particularly if you have 2 or 3 jobs.
0:45:10
If you're a caretaker, if you're a parent, if you have unstable housing or unstable employment, all of these their factors that make it very difficult to do screening regularly.
0:45:22
So part of the way that we try to address that is through enrolling We have a whole entire office dedicated to enrolling New Yorkers in health insurance, which is one of the ways to help at least decrease the cost.
0:45:34
For the screening, and there are many of our other healthcare partners who are doing other outreach and events around colon cancer and other cancer screening.
0:45:43
But I would admit that we can always do more.
0:45:47
I will also say, however, that that C5 coalition over the past 20 years has really reduced some of the preventable colon cancer mortality, which I think is a very important outcome.
Speaker 2
0:46:00
And a question my understanding is that in communities of color that the age is lower in terms of colon cancer, is that correct?
Speaker 4
0:46:07
So it's a very important question some of the guidelines from the US preventative task force have shifted and have started to consider things like race in the guidelines for when screening should start.
0:46:21
I think conversations are ongoing about when that shift should happen.
0:46:25
But, yes, in some cases, race and specifically black race is a factor as well as family history and deciding if screening should start earlier than for other the rest of the population that may not have those risk factors.
Speaker 2
0:46:38
And it seems to me that women are younger now that are getting breast cancer as well.
0:46:44
So we
Speaker 4
0:46:45
can The guidance was just updated to recommend breast cancer screening starting at age 40, and we can definitely share more information about how we've updated our patient education materials and guidance.
0:46:58
Based on those changes in the recommendations.
Speaker 2
0:47:01
Okay, so I want to ask a couple of questions about heart disease, and I want to also acknowledge we've been joined by council member De La Rosa.