Profiles/Success Stories

Mercy Hereditary Cancer Prevention Clinic (MHCPC) delivers evidence-based education, counseling and genetic testing for patients who have displayed a high risk level for hereditary breast cancer. Grant funding supports patient identification through a health-care model implemented District Health Department, regional surgeons and physicians. As part of a large regional clinic network, the work of MHCPC reaches all communities in our service region and is augmented by their partnerships with the regional cancer center and oncology satellite clinics in rural communities. These cutting-edge initiatives are successfully increasing physician and community awareness and identification of hereditary breast cancers.

Mercy Hereditary Cancer Prevention Clinic actively partners with the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians and the Iowa Cancer Registry. MHCPC works with nationally renowned geneticist Dr. Mary Claire King, who proved the existence of the first gene for hereditary breast cancer, now known as BRCA1. Partnership with major researchers keeps MHCPC on the leading edge of new findings and seeks to answer some of the mysteries about the higher prevalence of hereditary cancer in our area by enrolling Siouxland clients who meet the criteria for these studies. During the past two years, the Siouxland Affiliate has actively participated in recruiting new members to the Sister Study by distributing information to patients, families, and surgeons.

June E. Nylen Cancer Center, the regional cancer treatment center, is committed to breast cancer advocacy and a continued strong partnership with the Siouxland Affiliate. This collaboration offers an excellent opportunity and referral source for the Siouxland Affiliate to support all breast cancer patients. Local and regional grant funding has supported development of patient navigator services, targeted education/resource information, SOS free mammogram program, and financial assistance programs for patients undergoing treatment. Additional efforts have contributed to training health professionals in lymphedema management and computer-aided detection (CAD) programs to provide improved health care for breast patients.

Serving Our Sisters (SOS), offered by the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, provides free mammograms to women under age 50 who meet certain financial guidelines. SOS augments the work of the state-funded BCCEDP by targeting women younger than the qualifying age of the statefunded program. For women who lack a physician, SOS provides referrals to local and regional physicians to establish a primary care provider relationship. The program is an exemplary model of collaboration between Siouxland Community Health Center, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center and the Mercy Breast Care Center. Siouxland Affiliate has relied on SOS as a valued referral resource and has contributed annually to the SOS program for several years, helping to ensure that cost is not a barrier to receiving critically important screenings. This program has a quality working relationship with the state-funded BCCEDP programs and has provided screenings for a large number of women who would not otherwise have been able to access the proven benefits of mammograms.

Each year, the Komen Siouxland Affiliate has been able to increase the number of community collaborations and grant-funded programs. Despite today’s difficult economic times, we look forward to new and creative ideas for fundraising and grant distribution so that Siouxland Affiliate can expand the services offered to our counties. Our priorities are aligned with raising breast cancer awareness and building access connections that optimize communities’ ability to get the right care in the right place at the right time.