Cancer Support Community Rochester (CSCR) is joining its network partners in the launch of a new social media campaign, #GetScreened, to encourage people to take a pledge to get their routine cancer screenings and urge their friends and families to do the same.
The #GetScreened initiative comes as a response to the relaunch of the White House’s Cancer Moonshot, in which the President and the First Lady announced a call to action to prioritize a return to routine cancer screenings. It is estimated that nearly 10 million screenings were missed over the course of the pandemic. Routine screenings are a critical part of a person’s healthcare. Missed screenings may result in cancer being detected and diagnosed at a later, more advanced stage.
“Had I not had the screenings, I would not have found it,” said Jennifer, who was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram. “I had no other signs or symptoms. So, I was grateful that I was able to have a mammogram to catch it quickly and get into my treatment quickly, and right now I am cancer free.”
To promote a return to routine screenings, Cancer Support Community Rochester, alongside its network partners, will be promoting the pledge during the week of July 25. People will be directed to a specially designed landing page that also serves as an educational hub for information and support related to routine screenings.
Routine screening education and support is a key aspect of the #GetScreened campaign because distress, such as anxiety and depression, is commonly experienced by people impacted by cancer. Distress can also prevent individuals from seeking cancer screenings. For this reason, Cancer Support Community Rochester provides emotional support and referral services along the entire cancer continuum – from before screening to waiting for test results and throughout diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship – at their location and via CSC’s toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 1-888-793-9355.
“An annual cancer screening is one of the most important and proactive measures that everyone can take in managing their own health,” stated James Love, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Support Community Rochester. He added, “Finding cancer early through screening is vital to starting treatment earlier and accessing resources to help them along their cancer journey like the social and emotional support programs we offer at CSCR.”
For more information about the pledge and to access resources on cancer screenings, visit: https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/getscreened.
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