Risk Reduction and Screening Programs

Franciscan Community Cancer Program performs free cancer screenings in the community, offers outreach and education in high-risk groups, provides free tobacco cessation services, supervises community-based cancer navigators, offers survivorship events, and participates with community partners to reduce the human impact of cancer in the local community.

Franciscan's cancer screening programs are focused on those without medical insurance and medically underserved populations, and include free prostate, breast and skin cancer screening events.

The cancer program provides cancer screenings throughout the year in various locations throughout the community. Screening programs are made available to persons at high risk of cancer, those with significant susceptibility (or vulnerablility) to cancers, and those who may lack access to medical care and cancer screenings.

Breast cancer screenings (mammograms)

Community-based breast cancer screenings are performed throughout the year as part of the Franciscan Community Breast Cancer Navigation Program. This screening effort is focused on low-income, medically underserved women who lack access to care or are underinsured or uninsured. Community-based lay navigators in the Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, Pacific Islander, Korean, African American, sexual minority and Spanish-speaking communities perform outreach and education that is language and culturally appropriate.

Lay navigators enroll women in the BCCHP program (which also screens for cervical cancer) or into the FHS low-income mammogram fund in order to access mammogram services. Any woman with a positive finding is navigated through diagnostics, diagnosis and thru treatment as needed. These screenings are performed throughout the year and throughout our service area and are targeted to the populations most at risk and with the most barriers to care. We partner with the Korean Women’s Association for this program with the generous support of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation – Puget Sound Affiliate.

Prostate cancer screenings

Community-based prostate cancer screening is performed once or twice annually and focused on highest risk populations – primarily African American men. This service is provided through partnerships with African American churches and other faith-based organizations within these communities. Screenings include digital rectal exams by an Urologist and a PSA blood sample as well as additional blood-related diagnostics. We have partnered with the Prostate Cancer Education Council for this work for over 15 years.

Skin cancer screenings

Skin cancer screenings are performed one to two times each year. The focus of community-based skin cancer screening is to reach those at risk who lack access to medical care or specialty care (i.e. dermatologists). Screenings are performed by dermatologists or trained nurse practitioners, and are tracked in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology.

Regular medical cancer screenings

Thousands of cancer screenings are performed throughout the FHS system each year thru our clinic network, our GI labs, our hospitals and other facilities. Many of these screenings are performed under the Franciscan charity care program to those without insurance or lacking a medical home.

Screening follow-up

The Franciscan Community Cancer Program staff have responsibility for assuring that any positive findings identified during a community-based screening are addressed with timely, appropriate follow-up care, including arranging care for those who lack primary care providers and/or medical insurance.

Contact us about community screening opportunities:

For breast cancer screening and general questions about accessing cancer screening and care, contact: Tricia Sinek, 253-426-6746 or e-mail triciasinek@fhshealth.org.

For prostate cancer screening and skin cancer screening contact: Jamie Dobosz, 253-426-6746 253-530-2936 or e-mail jamiedobosz@fhshealth.org.