Colorectal cancer runs in José Gaytán’s family, so, naturally, preventing the disease was a priority for the 51-year-old man. However, due to its financial limitations, regular screening was not a viable option.
That was until last year, when her mother saw an advertisement at her church from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in El Paso for the Southwest Coalition for Colorectal Cancer Screening (SuCCCeS) program. Gaytán immediately signed up.
“I had never been examined because I did not have the money or the insurance,” Gaytán said. “When I heard about the program, I was immediately interested in my family’s history. Both my aunt and uncle passed away from colon cancer, so it was on my mind often. ”
The TTUHSC El Paso SuCCCeS and Breast Cancer Education, Screening and Navigation (BEST) programs proactively detect cancer in uninsured and underinsured residents. They have been saving lives in dozens of West Texas counties for nearly a decade.
BEST and SuCCCeS are funded by the Texas Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (CPRIT), a state agency created to prevent cancer and promote cancer research to help find cures. The agency provides funding for public and private institutions of higher education and recently renewed the two TTUHSC El Paso programs for a total of $ 5 million.
Since 2011, more than 32,500 uninsured and underinsured patients from El Paso and West Texas have enrolled in the programs. The result has been the discovery of 39 cases of breast cancer and 30 of colorectal cancer, including the condition in Gaytán in January 2020. Not only was it early, but TTUHSC El Paso also helped schedule their appointments and provided support throughout the process.
“When they told me I had cancer, I felt like my world was falling apart and I was depressed,” Gaytán said. “Fortunately, the SuCCCeS program helped me with all my appointments until the surgery was done. After the surgery, they checked me to make sure I was okay. ”
Gaytán’s last treatment was in late 2020 and he is currently in remission. He said he never expected to receive this kind of help in El Paso until he came across the SuCCCeS program. Several of his family members followed his example and were also examined.
Make an impact
Assessments conducted by both programs are vital in the largely Hispanic border area. Breast cancer is the most common among Hispanic women in the United States, and colorectal cancer death rates among Hispanics are higher in El Paso County than in the rest of Texas.
“We have made a huge difference in our community and others in West Texas. In the last few years, we have reached more than 30,000 people through educational outreach alone and have provided 9,000 individual assessments, ”said Jennifer Molokwu, MD, MPH, director of the Division of Cancer Control and Prevention at the Center for Cancer. TTUHSC El Paso Cancer Emphasis. “Uninsured or underinsured people tend to avoid getting screened because they are concerned about the cost. We want them to know that we are here to help them ”.
Dr. Molokwu, who is also an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and a family medicine specialist at Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, has been involved in both programs for more than 10 years. Earlier this year, she took over as director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Division, which oversees both programs, as well as other cancer screening plans.
“They see our success in El Paso and West Texas, which is the main reason CPRIT continues to fund our work,” said Dr. Molokwu. “El Paso is underserved when it comes to health personnel and health care services. It’s worse when it comes to cancers: rectal, breast, and cervical. The money and grants we get from CPRIT have allowed us to serve El Paso and West Texas and develop new ways of working efficiently. ”
BEST has served residents from El Paso County to Pecos County, while SuCCCeS reached out to Floyd County. In total, both programs cover 37 West Texas counties, many of which lack specialists and are not covered by similar programs in Central and South Texas. Dr. Molokwu said TTUHSC El Paso is trying to expand the two cancer prevention programs further east to help more communities.
They reach the community
SuCCCeS is for men and women ages 45-75 and BEST is for women ages 50 and older. To be eligible, they must have no prior history of colorectal cancer. Gabriel Nieves, a social worker with the Department of Family Medicine, said he and others are constantly recruiting participants.
Nieves and her outreach partners reach uninsured patients with pantries, clinics, health fairs, and other community events or venues. Recruitment comes with its own hurdles, such as potential patients being afraid of the language barrier, not believing it’s free, worrying if the screening test will hurt, and fearful of a positive cancer result.
“We tell them that if the test is positive, it does not mean it is cancer. It could be another problem, but it is good to do the prevention exam to be sure, “said Nieves. “Once they are evaluated, they realize that it is not such a big process and the fear is gone. If their test results are negative, it is wonderful and they are happy to do it again every year. ”
Once participants are enrolled, outreach workers follow up with them each year and deliver a new screening kit. Like Gaytán, once an individual signs up, they also become an advocate.
“I tell them, if you know someone who needs to be screened, give them my number and information. It is important for them to know that this is a free program, ”Nieves commented. “If you have insurance, we still urge you to talk to your provider about the service because it is preventive. If they don’t qualify, we will still try to help them. ”
Part of the mission
TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the US-Mexico border, serving 108 counties in West Texas that have historically been underserved and poorly studied. It is one of only two health science centers in the nation designated as a Title V Hispanic Serving Institution. TTUHSC El Paso is preparing students to be the next generation of health care heroes, 50% of whom identify as Hispanic.
Research conducted at the four TTUHSC El Paso Centers of Emphasis focuses on conditions that directly affect Hispanic populations, including cancer. University researchers also study disparities, helping address health care challenges through prevention programs and community education.
Faculty members provide world-class patient care through Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, which is the clinical practice of the Foster School of Medicine. TTP El Paso provides more than $ 31 million in unpaid care annually, ensuring that all residents of the region have access to quality health care. Each year, doctors make more than 200,000 visits to clinics for patients in the region.
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