Where the Money Goes

The 2017 Coaches vs. Cancer RadioThon will be raising funds to help increase the number of women being screened for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer in our community by partnering with community partner, HealthLinc. Help decrease financial and insurance barriers to cancer screening for women in our community.  This will potentially save the lives of local women by finding cancers earlier, before they spread.

The Need

We have a need here in the Michiana community – to help women prevent cancer by getting their recommended screenings! Did you know that 1/3 of Michiana women have not had a mammogram, which is well below the U.S. average of 73%? Also, about 74% of women in South Bend alone will have been screened for cervical cancer, which is well below the U.S. average of 83%.  Moreover, over 350 women in St. Joseph and Elkhart counties will develop breast cancer this year and approximately 57 will die from it. If caught at an early stage, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 99%.  It is time to save more lives by encouraging women to get their recommended cancer screenings in a timely fashion!

HealthLinc

The Coaches vs. Cancer RadioThon is partnering with community partner, HealthLinc to make sure that we work with our uninsured and underinsured population to increase these screening rates.  HealthLinc services include primary and preventive care services; health and wellness education; chronic disease management; prenatal care; women’s health services; men’s health services; wellness checks; immunizations; mental and behavioral health services. Here are some basic facts about HealthLinc and how they make a difference in the community –

• In 2015, about half of HealthLinc’s female patients in Michiana are uninsured.
• HealthLinc serves over 4,100 patients through its South Bend and Mishawaka health centers
• There are currently over 700 female HealthLinc patients who need cervical cancer screenings
• There are currently over 600 female HealthLinc patients who need mammograms
• Over 700 HealthLinc patients (males and females) in St. Joseph County need a colorectal cancer screening.
• In 2016, 51 HealthLinc patients needed diagnostic follow-up for an abnormal Pap or Mammogram.

How RadioThon Funding Can Help

Funds from the Coaches vs. Cancer RadioThon will help increase the number of women being screened for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer in our community.  Funds will also help women with costly follow-up diagnostic tests and with co-pays and deductibles for costly follow-up diagnostic tests.  These funds will also help navigate women through the cancer screening process, and to educate more women about the importance of breast, cervical and colorectal screening tests.

*Data pulled from the American Cancer Society and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.