Upstate Cancer Center will use Komen grant to expand breast-cancer screening program

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Upstate Cancer Center will use a grant of more than $48,000 to expand a mammography screening and resident-health advocacy program.

The Central New York affiliate of Susan G. Komen, a nonprofit that raises and donates money to fight breast cancer, awarded the grant.

The program, called She Matters, targets “underserved” women living in Toomey Abbott Towers and Almus Olver Towers, Upstate Medical University said in a news release distributed on Thursday.

The Upstate Cancer Center is part of Upstate Medical University. Toomey Abbott Towers is located at 1207 Almond St. in Syracuse, and Almus Olver Towers is located at 300 Burt St. in Syracuse.

Both Toomey Abbott and Almus Olver include about 175 women who are more than 40 years old, the target demographic for annual mammograms, Upstate said.

Upstate established She Matters last summer using a $50,000 grant that Susan G. Komen had also donated. It targeted “low-income, underserved” women living in Pioneer Homes, according to a July 30, 2014 news release on the Upstate Medical website.

“We’re delighted to continue support for She Matters as it expands its outreach efforts, health advocacy and mammography screening,” Kate Flannery, executive director of Susan G. Komen’s regional affiliate, said in Thursday’s Upstate news release. “Making mammograms accessible and providing women with support and guidance in the screening process helps save lives.”

Since the inception of She Matters, 88 women at Pioneer Homes, ages 40 and up, have received mammograms, Upstate said. The procedure resulted in the discovery of breast cancer in one woman, who is now receiving treatment.

This new donation will continue the Upstate Cancer Center’s efforts at Pioneer Homes, while also expanding into the Toomey Abbott Towers and Almus Olver Towers.

She Matters also provides health education for women.

The program funds the Upstate Medical-provided training of resident-health advocates, residents of Pioneer Homes who serve as community resources on health-related issues, according to the news release.

Advocates lead discussion groups and offer support for women during breast cancer screenings.

In total, more than 250 women have enrolled in the program and participated in health programming over the past year, Upstate said.

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