More Underserved Texas Women To Receive Free Cancer Prevention Screenings

NORTHFIELD, Ill., Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "See, Test & Treat^®" a nationally recognized cancer prevention program, will expand its presence in Texas, which experiences the highest uninsured rate in the United States¹, through a $50,000 grant from CVS Health.  The flagship program of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation, See, Test & Treat is a one-day event that offers free cervical and breast cancer screening and other crucial tests and health education to uninsured and low-income women and their families.

Each See, Test & Treat program provides free cervical and breast cancer screenings, and a team of pathologists provides same-day test results.  The Foundation, in partnership with CVS Health, has scheduled six programs in Texas in 2017 and early 2018, including an Aug. 12 event at Sunnyside Health Center in Houston. To register for the Aug. 12 event, women should call (713) 909-4284

The program has served uninsured women in Texas since 2012. In one recent Texas program, 18 percent of the women receiving mammograms showed abnormal results. Pap test findings were as high as 11 percent in another program. All programs returned abnormal HPV results.

"Breast cancer is expected to take the lives of nearly 3,000 women and cervical cancer will account for close to 400 deaths in Texas this year² so we are pleased to support strong programs like See, Test and Treat," said Eileen Howard Boone, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, CVS Health. "We are proud to join The College of American Pathologists and the CAP Foundation to provide this vital care for the underserved community in Texas – where at-risk women continue to face significant barriers to care."

"Texas is the Lone Star State, but See, Test & Treat has demonstrated that women are never alone here when it comes to breast and cervical cancer screenings. CVS Health's generous support will allow us to be there for many more women of Texas and their families," said CAP Foundation Board President Karim Sirgi, MD, MBA, FCAP. "The See, Test & Treat model has proven that helping at-risk women not only improves their outcomes, but also has a ripple effect and results in positive health changes in their families and communities."

As part of each program, participating hospitals and health centers provide plans for necessary follow-up testing and treatment that same day, as well as health education counseling for medically at-risk populations faced with financial, linguistic, social and cultural barriers to healthcare. See, Test & Treat events mirror the collaboration demonstrated every day by pathologists as a critical part of health care teams.

About the College of American Pathologists and CAP Foundation
As the world's largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For more information, read the CAP Annual Report at cap.org.

The CAP Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the College of American Pathologists, supports patient-centered and humanitarian initiatives led by pathologists, striving to connect people in underserved communities with the specialized skills of pathologists. CAP Foundation funding for See, Test & Treat is made possible through the continued generous support of CAP member pathologists, staff, foundations, industry, and private donations. In 2017, See, Test & Treat is generously being supported by organizations such as CVS Health, Hologic Inc., and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Learn more and donate: foundation.cap.org. Contact the CAP Foundation [email protected] or follow us on Twitter at @capfndn.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 80 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

¹ According to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
² According to the Texas Cancer Registry

SOURCE College of American Pathologists Foundation