Siouxland Community Programs

 Local Mammography Facilities

     The Komen Siouxland Affiliate Community Profile Subcommittee of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure contacted breast health care providers, survivors, and breast care advocates to compile a list of current programs offered in the Siouxland communities. The following is a list of Siouxland programs that specifically offer breast health services to women. Several of these programs are administered or supported by the efforts of the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

After Breast Cancer Support Group (ABC)
Address: Siouxland Regional Cancer Center; 230 Nebraska St. Sioux City, IA 51101
Phone: (712) 252-9338
Contact Person: Mary Jane Fitch
Specific purpose of program: The ABC support group provides support to women who have had or who are facing breast cancer through sharing common experiences and through knowledge.
Start date: 1991

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Location in community: This group serves a 30 county tri-state area. It is located on the boarder of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota.
Sources and type of support: Primarily the June E. Nylen Cancer Center funds ABC with some support from St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center.
People served: To date there are over 525 women on the mailing list in 33 counties. They receive a newsletter monthly. These women come from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
Services offered: Educational and support services. Educational speakers and medical information is provided in the newsletter with access to community and national resources.

Future/long term goals: To continue to provide support services and educational programs to the community.  To connect breast cancer survivors to other breast cancer patients.
Intended audience role: Voluntarism for community support and public advocacy.
Collaboration: Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center
Special considerations: With each newsletter reaching over 500 women, educating, empowerment, and motivation of the women is the goal.
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Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
Address: 1014 Nebraska St., Sioux City, IA  51105; Siouxland District Health Department
Phone: (712) 279-6119
Director: Fran Sadden
Contact Person: Chris Goss
Specific purpose of program: To help women underserved or uninsured who financially qualify to obtain pap smears and mammograms.
Start date: 1997 - current
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Location in community: Located close to downtown Sioux City, IA.
Sources and type of support: Federal funding.
People served: Serves the indigent and those with no healthcare access.
Services offered: The services offered are educational, screening, diagnosis, referral and support.
Future/long term goals: To continue to increase access to pap smears and mammograms and decrease barriers to access.
Intended audience role: To assist women with early detection.
Collaboration: This program and the Free Mammogram Program work together so that hopefully no woman falls through the cracks. This program collaborates with providers in the community. A national toll free phone number for the program is made available to provide assistance no matter in what state the woman resides. (800-369-2229) Siouxland is a Tri-state region and relies on such collaboration.
Special Considerations: The impact of local customs, cultures and language is emphasized in Siouxland. Often women will let their own healthcare needs be second to their family needs.  There are language barriers but Spanish and Vietnamese interpreters are available. Attempts are being made to educate all women about the importance of early detection.
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Free Mammogram Program
Address: June E. Nylen Cancer Center; 230 Nebraska St., Sioux City, IA.
Phone: (712) 252-9338
Director: Mary Jane Fitch
Contact Person: Mary Jane Fitch
Specific purpose of program: To help women medically underserved, uninsured, or who need financial assistance to obtain screening mammograms.
Start date: 1999
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Location in community: In the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in downtown Sioux City, Iowa.
Sources and type of support: Initially, the program was funded by a grant from the United Way obtained by the June E. Nylen Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society. Individual donations, the United Way, the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, and the Waitt Family Foundation now fund this program. The June E. Nylen Cancer Center administrates it.
People served: Serving women in the 33 county regions of Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota and Northeast Nebraska.
Services offered: The services offered are educational, screening, and diagnosis. Referrals are taken from individual women seeking help and financial assistance and from physicians. If the woman does not have a physician she will be assisted in obtaining one. Various resources are tapped if needed to assist the woman in obtaining further financial support if she needs further medical tests.
Future/long term goals: To continue this program for the women of the region indefinitely.
Intended audience role: To help women advocate for their medical needs.
Collaboration: The Free Mammogram Program and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program work together so that hopefully no woman falls through the cracks. The Free Mammogram program collaborates with providers in the community to help women find a physician at the Siouxland Community Health Center, or to schedule a mammogram at either St. Luke’s Hospital, Mercy Medical Center or The Breast Care Center.
Special considerations: This program has been a tremendous success in Siouxland as it is able to help a woman pay for all or some of her mammogram.  Funding, however is always an issue and concern.
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Breast Cancer Patient to Patient Program
Address: June E. Nylen Cancer Center; 230 Nebraska St., Sioux City, IA
Phone: (712) 252-9338
Director: Diane Meland
Contact Person: Mary Jane Fitch
Specific purpose of program: To support a woman through a breast cancer diagnosis, from pre-surgery through post-surgery.
Start date: January 2002
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Location in community: In the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in downtown Sioux City, Iowa.
Sources and type of support: Funded by the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.
People served: Serving women in the 33 county regions of Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota and Northeast Nebraska.
Services offered: The services assist a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer deal with the questions that arise. Ttrained volunteers counsel women about their options without giving medical advice.
Future/long term goals: To continue this program for the women of the region indefinitely.
Intended audience role: To help women advocate for their medical needs and to aid women with resources available in the community. These resources may be include support groups, educational materials, books and/or videos, direction for finding medical support, or by accompanying women to their doctors’ appointments.
Collaboration: Currently the program receives many calls from doctors’ offices requesting a support system for a woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Special considerations: Volunteers frequently bring women into the Resource Center at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.  Volunteers may also make home visits with patients and their family members.
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Patient Assistance Fund
Address: June E. Nylen Cancer Center, 230 Nebraska St., Sioux City, IA  51101
Phone: (712) 252-0088
Director: Karen Forneris
Specific purpose: The purpose is to increase the Cancer Center’s ability to assist patients and their families whose finances are depleted because of medical treatment, prescription drugs and/or related expenses, or whose income simply cannot cover such expenses. Also, if while traveling to or from treatment, weather related or other unforeseen delays occur, lodging can be provided.
Start Date: 1997
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Location in the community: In the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in downtown Sioux City, Iowa.
Sources and type of support: The June E. Nylen Cancer Center funds the Patient Assistance Fund through private donations, corporate donations, grant awards and businesses. Clerical staff administers the program.
People served: All age groups in the 33 county regions in Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota and Northeast Nebraska. People served are an average of 175 per day.
Services offered: Support services, education, prescriptions, lodging, and food care packages.
Future long-term goals: To continue to provide assistance to outpatients and to broaden the program financially so that it can meet all of the needs of individuals.
Intended audience role: To assist a patient in need and to help them deal with their diagnosis.
Collaboration: The June E. Nylen Cancer Center is solely responsible for the Patient Assistance Fund. It works with Siouxland Hematology to obtain some prescription drugs through the Indigent Drug Program.
Special consideration: This area of Siouxland is home to a large number of minority groups and individuals who are financially underserved and medically needy. Many times there are women who are unable to speak English and need prescription drugs immediately. Because of the program’s bilingual staff it is easy to assist these women. There are also many rural women who need assistance from our funds if a winter storm prevents them from returning home.
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American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery Program
Address: 600 4^th St., Sioux City, IA 51101
Phone: (712) 233-1148
Contact Person: Call (800) 227-2345
Specific purpose of program: To aid mastectomy patients with their after care following surgery. There are exercises, prosthesis information and information about the Navigator program through the American Cancer Society.
Start date: 1973
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Location in community: Southeast South Dakota, Northwest Iowa, and Northeast Nebraska. Sources and type of support: This program is funded by the American Cancer Society.
People served: All women.
Services offered: The services offered in this program are educational and support services.
Future/long term goals: The future long term goals are to make the Reach to Recovery program one that provides support starting with diagnosis.
Intended audience role: Encourage voluntarism and public advocacy in the program.
Collaboration: None except for the Doctor’s referral.
Special considerations: The Reach to Recovery program raises awareness in the community.
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Resource Center-Breast Cancer Section
Address: June E. Nylen Cancer Center, 230 Nebraska St., Sioux City, IA  51101
Phone: (712) 252-0088
Director: Mary Jane Fitch, Patient and Family Services Manager
Contact Person: Mary Jane Fitch
Specific purpose: To provide education for women concerning breast cancer prevention, treatment options, coping with emotional, dietary, spiritual and sexual issues. There are over 100 videos, 75 books, and hundreds of pamphlets addressing concerns women face with a breast cancer diagnosis.
Start date: 1995
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Location: June E. Nylen Cancer Center in downtown Sioux City Iowa.
Sources and types of support: The Resource Center is funded through private donations, grant awards, corporations, and supported by funds from June E. Nylen Cancer Center.
People Served: There are 175 patients a day at the SRCC serving a 33 county area. The large majority of patients are breast cancer patients.
Services offered: The Resource Center offers services of an educational and support basis. A full wig boutique that is free to women with any type of cancer is also available at the Resource Center.
Future and long-term goals: To continue to expand the Resource Center with more books and pamphlets, including those in Spanish and the Asian languages.
Intended audience role: To create a setting for women so they can advocate for themselves. Since breast cancer creates a feeling of loss of control in a woman this educational setting can offer a place to gain back some of the control of their illness through knowledge.
Collaboration: There are many organizations, physicians’ offices, clubs and businesses in the Siouxland area that refer their patients and employees to the Resource Center and to the services through the Patient and Family Services.
Special Considerations: The Cancer Center feels an obligation in the community to assist with the education of breast health issues and to advocate for improved insurance benefits, prevention coverage, and overall improved breast care for women.
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Mercy Hereditary Cancer Prevention Clinic
Address: Mercy Medical Center, 801 5^th St., Sioux City, IA  51101
Phone: (712) 279-2010
Director: Dr. Cindie Wolff
Contact Person: Dr. Cindie Wolff
Specific purpose: To increase physician and community awareness of hereditary cancers, including breast cancer, and determining whether the high incidence of breast, ovarian, colon, and endometrial cancer in Northwest Iowa is attributable to a high incidence of hereditary cancer.
Start date: 2002
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Location:  Mercy Medical Center in downtown Sioux City Iowa and its 18 clinics located throughout seven Iowa counties.
Sources and types of support: The Clinic is funded through grants including the Wellmark Foundation.
People Served: General public and people at risk for hereditary cancers.
Services offered: Genetic testing for hereditary cancers and genetic counseling.  Financial assistance is also offered.
Future and long-term goals:  To increase physician and community awareness of hereditary cancers, including breast cancer, and determining whether the high incidence of breast, ovarian, colon, and endometrial cancer in Northwest Iowa is attributable to a high incidence of hereditary cancer.
Intended audience role: Physicians and general public.
Collaboration: Mercy Medical Center, The Iowa Academy of Family Physicians and the Iowa Cancer Registry.
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Other Educational Programs & Events
Here's a list of programs that deal with other types of cancer and health issues, in addition to providing breast health, breast cancer prevention and education in the community.

STAR:  The June E. Nylen Cancer Center is a part of a National Cancer Institute sponsored Clinical Community Oncology Program with 15% of its patients participating in studies. They participate in STAR, a clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of tamoxifen with raloxifene for breast cancer prevention. STAR is being conducted by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast & Bowel Projects.

Nutrition: The June E. Nylen Cancer Center has a “Breast Cancer Prevention and Nutrition” Program for its patients. This program encourages nutrition suggestions for breast cancer patients and nutrition suggestions for breast cancer prevention. Their dietitians are available to the patients.

Breast/Testicular Cancer Self-Exam:  This program is in the organizational stage. Self-exam cards and speakers are provided for the high schools and colleges in this region. To date, the University of South Dakota, Briar Cliff University, Morningside College, Gehlen High School, North High School have participated. The cards and education materials are also available in the Resource Center at the Cancer Center. 

Health Fairs: The June E. Nylen Cancer Center provides breast cancer prevention, education, screening and health information at regional community health fairs.

United Way Women’s Power Lunch: This was launched in April 2001 by a group of concerned women in the community wishing to raise awareness about women’s issues, including breast cancer, prevention, education, screenings available for women and treatment. The first lunch was a huge success with over 350 women attending, and it's now an annual event in the community. 

Look Good, Feel Better Program: This American Cancer Society program has local beauticians provide women receiving cancer therapy with makeup, hair and general skin care advice. It is offered bi-monthly at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.

I Can Cope Classes: These are offered at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center by an American Cancer Society trained facilitator. Twice a year, this class meets once a week for four weeks and focuses on medical information, the affects of treatment and coping suggestions.  

Kids Coping With Cancer: This is a six week program sponsored by the June E. Nylen Cancer Center to assist children who are coping with a family member’s cancer diagnosis. A trained facilitator meets with the child or children and weekly addresses different topics. Physical and medical questions are answered. The child also learns about self-care, relaxation techniques and coping skills. The program has been well attended with 85% of the children being children of breast cancer patients.

Hospice of Siouxland:  Provides comprehensive support programs for people and their families who are experiencing terminal illnesses. Services include medical, dietary, spiritual, psychosocial, financial and palliative care.

General Cancer Support Group:  This June E. Nylen Cancer Center program offers monthly educational meetings for people with cancer. Topics have included: Communicating with Your Physician, Social Security Disability, Coping Skills, Insurance Issues, Dealing With Discrimination, Herbs & Nutrition, Journaling Tips, and Better Bone Health. The programs are well attended and feedback is positive.

All Women Count! - A South Dakota cooperative agreement between the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  It provides support for the payment of breast and cervical cancer screening services. These services are targeted to low income, uninsured and underinsured women between the ages of 40-64.  To be eligible for screenings, women must:
     • Be a South Dakota resident.
     • Be age 50-64 for breast cancer screening.
     • Be uninsured or under-insured.
     • Meet income guidelines of 200% of federal poverty level or less.

Care For Yourself - An Iowa cooperative agreement between the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It provides support for the payment of breast and cervical cancer screening services. These services are targeted to low income, uninsured and underinsured women between the ages of 40-64. To be eligible for screenings, women must:
     • Be an Iowa resident.
     • Be age 50-64 for breast cancer screening.
     • Be uninsured or under-insured.
     • Meet income guidelines of 200% of federal poverty level or less.

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