From Queens Rules:Queens has the highest rate of late-stage breast cancer detection in the nation, due to a variety of reasons. It stands at 33 percent versus the national average of 12 percent, according to the Queens Cancer Center. Now a grassroots effort called HealthLink is mobilizing survivors like Harris to reach out in laundry rooms and libraries across the borough to screen women in time.
As well as screening in mobile buses and vans that are parked in well-traveled corners, the group does outreach in the 12 of the borough’s 62 libraries, working in seven languages.
While HealthLink claims to have helped some 2597 women since last year, many barriers remain, such as routine poverty and lack of primary care. Medical facilities such as St. John’s and Mary Immaculate Hospitals have closed, leaving a big gap for treatment. Then there’s a general lack of information about screening options and slashed state budgets. This past April, for example, the New York state government shrank the Cancer Services Program’s budget to $21 million from $29 million the year before. This program helps provide uninsured women access to screenings and treatments.
On top of all these factors, healthcare challenges affect Queens’ large immigration population. Nearly half of the borough’s roughly 2.2 million residents are foreign- born from over 100 different countries. This means that language, a distrust of Western medicine and the fear of deportation can discourage immigrants from seeking help.
One thing they forgot to mention... Maybe we should stop building schools and apartment buildings on toxic land.
17 comments:
How come the war against breast cancer generates pink ribbon logos and the war against prostate cancer generates nothing?
Post: "One thing they forgot to mention... Maybe we should stop building schools and apartment buildings on toxic land."
The article states "late stage cancer detection" which means that women in Queens are NOT getting screened until the cancer is in its final stage or in some cases too late.
The article does NOT state that we have the highest breast cancer rate in the country.
"How come the war against breast cancer generates pink ribbon logos and the war against prostate cancer generates nothing?"
Breast cancer in women has reached almost epidemic preportions.
Start your own campaign with blue ribbons if that'll make you happy.
i believe the Obama/democrat health care bill denies early breast cancer screening to women below the age of 50.
Pink ribbons = Slacktivism?
"The article does NOT state that we have the highest breast cancer rate in the country."
This is true but you'd have to be living under a rock to not know that Western Queens is a breast cancer cluster. There have been numerous studies and articles published about it. Here's a sample.
I noticed the high prevalence of cancer of all types in Astoria when I was a grade school child and I did not have any PhD's either. It is as obvious as the nose on your face.
We are paying the price for electrical generation all over New York City. For example, I have seen toxic drums of chemicals stored under the park near Polletti #5 in Astoria right under children's feet.
I have also seen men in Hazmat suits working with PCB-laced transformer oil and tut tutting my concerns. Hazmat suits and showers for them, what protection for me when I live feat from that explosion?
The should also close down those Santaria places too. If you are sick, dont drink bat wings but go to a freakin doctor.
From employment to housing to politicans this country is taking one step back after another.
I noticed the high prevalence of cancer of all types in Astoria when I was a grade school child and I did not have any PhD's either. It is as obvious as the nose on your face.
Folks, anyone see anything in western Queens, set up an account and post on astorians.com.
Many veterans of the site think they are a small clique (perhaps a few dozen - not unlike the clubhouse) and are all but useless revelling in the trivial and silly, and any serious discussion gets glibly derailed or locked.
But 'tha boys' read it and any discouraging word drives them nuts.
"This is true but you'd have to be living under a rock to not know that Western Queens is a breast cancer cluster. There have been numerous studies and articles published about it. Here's a sample."
wow Crappy - I had no idea - thanks for the link. I'm passing that on to my friends.
It's not the water since we are all drinking from the same watering hole - there's more old construction than new . . . . . .
what gives?
"If you are sick, dont drink bat wings but go to a freakin doctor."
good sound advice.
(funny. . . .)
Pollution. Poor air quality. Soil contamination.
Why is the proliferation of blood cancers in Queens being ignored, or worse, being swept under the rug?
RE:anon. #7,Nicola Tesla,died at age 84,of heart disease. a naturalized American citizen,from Serbia.
he invented the tesla coil. A/C alternating current electrical power systems,the A/C motor,the radio,etc.etc.
he was subjected to more electrical devises than most humans.
you should check wikipedia. .your comments could be wishful thinking. there is no proof to your comment.
It's not "electrical devices" that are causing cancer, but rather the process used to make electricity. Like the pollution generated from power plants.
Thank you Crappy. I specifically mentioned PCBs which are used in transformer oil and there are other chemicals also used such as the leukemia-causing solvent Benzene used to clean and degrease, also in vaults owned by Con Ed.
I've seen those sidewalk vaults with labeled drums near the East River Park by Polletti #5 in Northern Astoria.
It is a shame that people think they should lecture me all about Tesla when it is clear that they are totally ignorant of science, having not the faintest idea of what chemicals are used in generating electricity or what a transformer even is.
As Babs noted, the article states "late stage cancer detection" which means women in Queens are not getting screened until the cancer is in a late or final stage.
So you have to ask: why are women not getting screened?
I'll just say this: I know several women in the area who "don't believe in" screening or doctors and think YOU are nuts if you bother. It's only a handful of people but I bet they're not the only ones!
Granted we do have some questionable construction on top of former gas stations (31st Street near Broadway in Astoria and 52nd Street and Queens Blvd, next to PC Richard, for example).
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