Bay Area Cancer Connections

Access to care programs (the patser fund and the screening and navigation program) provides access to free screening and diagnostic services for the early detection of breast cancer, education and awareness. This program serves as a safety net for low-income, medically-underserved and under-resourced women and men in our community who would otherwise be unable to access care. The gabriella patser fund contracts with local medical facilities and medical offices to serve women under 40 and men of any age who are not eligible for the state's early detection program. Clients served by the program are low-income and uninsured. The program pays for medical services such as mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and breast mris at reduced negotiated rates. The program also provides health education and information, navigation through the health system, interpreting services, and transportation assistance. The screening and navigation program (snp) is designed to offer a culturally sensitive, proactive approach for the risk-reduction and early detection of breast and cervical cancer. The snp program is a multi-faceted, comprehensive outreach and patient navigation effort that addresses not only the medical needs of the clients, but also the emotional needs, and empowers clients to manage their health in the future. The bi-lingual and bi-cultural client care navigator develops a trusting relationship with each client, beginning with the personal contact when the client is initially approved for services and continuing through all stages of the process. Critical to the program's success is removing barriers to receiving care, which includes transportation assistance that provides language specific support (practical, emotional, and informational) necessary to help clients who speak little or no english. Many of the clients that utilize the program are mono-lingual spanish speakers. Support programs - bacc provides emotional support to clients throughout the cancer treatment journey. Bacc programs and services can be divided into these main, but certainly not distinct areas: medical information, emotional support, emergency financial assistance, and practical resources.

Annual cancer conference - an annual day-long conference that provides cutting edge information on medical and support topics related to breast and ovarian cancer. Renowned speakers offer presentations and q&a sessions. Participants share information amongst each other and a resource fair exposes participants to a variety of helpful resources throughout the bay area. The conference brought together approximately 227 attendees, which includes patients, survivors, medical professionals, and therapists, to network, share knowledge and create hope.