ACS-Health Care Partners Committee (Low Country)-$500: Funded 2007
Effective January 1, 2007 South Carolina state employees are eligible for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening services through the SC State Health Plan. The Healthcare Partners Committee led by ACS, in collaboration with the South Carolina Gastroenterology Association and the South Carolina Cancer Alliance,
have coordinated and facilitated one lunch and learn session for state employees to inform them about colorectal cancer screening guidelines and the new CRC screening coverage available through the state health plan.
Palmetto Health-Colorectal Cancer Walk (Midlands)-$1000: Funded 2007
Funds were used to increase awareness about the 8th Annual Colorectal Cancer Awareness walk, held March 8, 2008.
Majority Baptist Church (Upstate)-$1000: Funded
2007
Reverend Marcell Bush hosted an educational program for area churches focused on colorectal cancer screening and prevention. Rev. Bush partnered with the four largest Black churches in Spartanburg, SC plus several others area organizations. Rev. Bush’s goal
was to have over 150 participants at this educational program. Funds requested offset the host church’s costs for printing programs and other materials necessary (bulletin board sized posters) to host a large public educational event.
South Carolina Gastroenterology Association (Statewide)-$750: Funded
2007
The South Carolina Gastroenterology Association and the South Carolina Cancer Alliance coordinated and facilitated lunch-and-learns statewide or state employees to inform them about colorectal cancer screening guidelines and the new CRC screening coverage available through the state health plan.
ReGenesis Community Health Center (Upstate)-$1000: Funded
2007
We distributed Fecal Occult Blood (FOB) kits and purchased Blue Star pins/buttons/ posters to heighten awareness of colon cancer in our community. Our patient population has a high prevalence of colon cancer but low information on colon cancer screening. In order to heighten awareness, we used the Blue Star logo-
'Preventable, Treatable, and Beatable.' Distribution of Blue Star pins to our patients, putting up posters to remind our patients to ask for colon cancer screening. Funds
were used to purchase material from Colon CA Alliance and distributed during March Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
Piedmont Medical Center Cancer Services (Upstate)-$500: Funded
2007
Effective January 1, 2007 South Carolina state employees are eligible for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening services through the SC State Health Plan. The Piedmont Medical Center
has coordinated and facilitated one lunch and learn session for state employees to inform them about colorectal cancer screening guidelines and the new CRC screening coverage available through the state health plan. The funds
were used to cover copying costs for materials that will be distributed during the community presentation, to purchase supplies and materials needed to conduct the community presentations.
Partners for a Healthy Community
(Upstate)-$1,000: Funded 2007
Raised awareness of colon cancer prevention among
community members through Congregational Health promotion
activities. In Anderson County annually there are as many as 900
new cases of cancer entering the local health care system and
more than 450 cases of deaths from colon cancer within 5 years.
The second highest number of deaths in the county from cancer is
caused by colon cancer. Many more have recurrent or chronic
cancer requiring treatment. Two key factors that block access to
cancer screening in Anderson County are the lack of health
insurance coverage and the lack of knowledge about the
importance of screening services. An educational tool such as
our ‘Healthy Choice Cancer Prevention Module’ has the potential
for addressing this lack of knowledge and raising awareness
among community members about cancer prevention, free and low
cost screening services and community programs. $600.00 of the
funds were used to pay for supplies for printing, copying,
and postage related to volunteer training and promotion of the
Cancer Prevention Module. In addition each presenter received a module notebook, module video and Colon Cancer related
resource literature, brochures, posters, meeting supplies and
educational incentives. $400.00 of the funds provided
honorariums for tabulation of the post presentation survey
results. This tabulation and compiling of results was done
by Clemson University nursing students.
Cancer Association of the Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties
(Upstate): Funded 2007
The Cancer Advisory Committee of Cherokee County
was awarded a small grant to facilitate a community-wide effort targeting colorectal cancer. The initiative included
community education, early diagnosis and screening, and referral
for treatment. According to SCDHEC statistics, in 2004, cancer
was the leading cause of death in Cherokee County. Additionally,
for the years 2001-2003, colorectal cancer incidence and death
rates in Cherokee County were higher than state rates (43.2 vs.
40.1, and 17.4 vs. 17.3 respectively). A similar project was
implemented in 2005 and resulted in some very positive outcomes.
However, Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) card kits were used as a
screening tool, and as is often the case, there were low rates
of adherence in returning kits. In identifying basic screening
information to accompany the test kit, we found many materials
written at a literacy level above that of the general
population. In an effort to increase return rates, we are
seeking funding to cover printing costs for a basic,
easy-to-understand FOBT instructional brochure.
South Carolina DHEC Region 2 (Upstate)-$1,000: Funded 2007
The Colon C.A.R.E. campaign enhanced awareness and knowledge of colon cancer and its risk factors in Greenville and Pickens Counties, specifically targeting health care professionals involved in colon cancer referrals, treatment, follow-up, rehabilitation and support. An assessment tool
was developed and distributed to health care professionals to determine their capacity as a colon cancer resource and at what level they would be willing to collaborate with PCSPS to be developed as a referral resource. As an incentive to return the assessment, participants
were given a certificate as a Colon C.A.R.E. Partner, name announced in local news media and added to the local Upstate Cancer Resource Directory. A flyer and/or information card and posters
were devised to be distributed with the assessment tool and to the general public. At campaign end, a community dialogue
was arranged with invitation to elected officials, community advocates, social service agency representatives and others with an interest in colon cancer to share the results of the assessment and solicit for answers to how providers can collaborate to provide colon cancer screenings, treatment and essential follow-up. Funds
were used for professional printing of flyers, cards, certificates and posters ($500), postage for mail-outs to health care professionals and invitations ($100), rental space for dialogue ($200- if not needed, additional funding will be added to printing and the dialogue) and refreshments for community dialogue ($200).
Midlands Partnership for Community Health- Parish Nurse
Program (Midlands)-$500: Funded 2007
The Parish Nurses presented the Cancer Education Guide to
identified groups within the churches they worked with. The Cancer
Education Guide promotes the American Cancer Society Early
Detection and Screening guidelines. At the conclusion of the
presentation, the parish nurses also recruited individuals
50+ who did not have CRC screening coverage into a free screening
clinic sponsored by a community gastroenterology clinic.
The Betty Ann Moore Community Grants Program:
In 2007, we funded our first round of community grants establishing
the Betty Ann Moore Community Grants program. We have successfully
funded over 20 programs and over 1,000 screenings statewide. All
grants are reviewed based on a number of criteria, which includes: a
programs in-kind contributions, its geographic location in South
Carolina and its participation in other statewide programs related
to colorectal cancer education, awareness or screening.
This is a statewide effort to raise funds to unmask colon cancer
through increased awareness, education, screening, and research.
Our overall goal with these grants is to broaden both the number of
and location of participants in the colorectal cancer effort in our
state. Proceeds from our annual Unmasking Colon Cancer Ball supports
this grant program.
Lexington Medical Center Colon Cancer Bike Ride- Wiping out colon cancer!-$10,000–Post
posed till March 2010
Proceeds funding a free screening program for Lexington County
residents.
Elms Endoscopy (North Charleston)-$10,000: Funded 2008
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic (Hilton Head)-$15,000: Funded 2008
Volunteers in Medicine provides free medical care to those members of the community who live and/or work on Hilton Head or Daufuskie Islands, and who earn less than twice the federal poverty levels annually. The colonoscopy program at VIM provides free exams, lab testing, to all patients over the age of 50, as well as diagnostic colonoscopies and associated treatment for those patients who require it. Patients are screened at intake and testing and patient education automatically becomes part of the patient’s visit if they are over the age of 50. A local practicing physician provides colonoscopies at a cost of half of Medicare’s allowed rate, and VIM pays the bill for these through the colonoscopy program. All patients who receive treatment are tracked through the clinic’s electronic medical records system, where follow up is structured and outcomes are measured.
Individuals screened ( As of June 2009):
Screened 407 patients since the grant began (222 female and 185 male).
Return rate of FOBT’s:
89% of FOBT’s were returned.
8% of screened patients were unable to be contacted.
Number of positive FOBT findings:
Six patients had a positive FOBT
Number of Colonoscopies performed:
Six colonoscopies were performed
Number of diagnosed colon cancer:
No cases of colon cancer were identified. The colonoscopies revealed hemorrhoids, diverticulitis and benign polyps.
Funding Opportunity for Colorectal Screening Activities Statewide
In 2008, the Center for Colon Cancer Research at USC established the Betty Ann Moore Community Grant program. We are seeking applications to support local communities and medical providers’ efforts to provide colonoscopy screening to low income uninsured and underinsured persons in South Carolina. Four to five grants for up to $10,000 each will be awarded to successful applicants. Applications are due on August 23, 2010. Applicants for these funds must partner with a physician member of the South Carolina Gastroenterology Association. Click on one of the links below for more information.
The WE CAN! Program
The goal of the WE CAN! program is to increase awareness and promote participation in colon cancer screening among men and women, aged 50 and older (African Americans aged 45 and older), in Richland and Lexington Counties, South Carolina. The WE CAN! program includes:
Free colon cancer awareness and educational programs to individuals and groups;
Free exhibit suitable for health fairs and community events;
Information on where to get screened for colon cancer; and
Help getting screened for colon cancer through community navigation.
