Armenta Washington (right), Senior Research Coordinator at Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center, and Minnie McNeil (left), Executive Director of the W.C. Atkinson Memorial Community Services Center
Black communities have a higher prevalence of colon cancer and a higher mortality rate from this disease. Colon cancer, however, is relatively easy to treat if detected early. That’s why on June 18th, Chester County Hospital partnered with the Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement Program to host an outdoor community wellness and colon cancer prevention event in Coatesville, Pa. The event was held in honor of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.
“Screenings are key to early detection, but many obstacles exist for residents of underserved communities,” says Armenta Washington, senior research coordinator at the Abramson Cancer Center. “It’s a luxury for many people to get time off work for a colonoscopy appointment. In some cases, they must decide between buying groceries or screening preparation materials. Our goal is to remove screening barriers.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington has conducted several FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test) drive-through events in Philadelphia to increase access to colorectal screening among African-Americans. FIT take-home tests detect hidden blood in the stool and are often used in place of colonoscopies for average-risk patients because these tests are less expensive, less disruptive, and more private than a colonoscopy. (Patients with a positive result on an FIT, however, will then need a colonoscopy.)
The Juneteenth event had its origins last year, when CCH collaborated with the W.C. Atkinson Memorial Community Services Center to offer free breast cancer screenings for women in the Coatesville area. Eventually, a colorectal screening initiative began to form. “We decided that Coatesville would be a good community for replicating Philadelphia’s successful drive-through screening model,” said Chad Thomas, community health education coordinator at CCH. “We collaborated with Jubilee Evangelistic Ministries, who graciously allowed us to use their parking lot for the event.”
Armenta Washington (front, third from left) with graduate students, CCH staff, and Minority Nurse Educators of Chesco.
“The event spoke to the power of shared resources, collaboration, and the community’s dedication to reducing chronic disease and improving access to care,” said Judy Suska, DPA, MPH, MBA, CCH’s director of Strategy and Business Development.
The Juneteenth event provided the Coatesville community with the opportunity to receive life-saving information about colon cancer prevention and screening. Participants were able to remain in their cars, and thus lower their risk of catching or spreading COVID-19. They were given free at-home colon cancer screening kits and were also offered on-site blood pressure screenings provided by Minority Nurse Educators of Chesco.
“Research has shown us that these socially distanced events are feasible, effective, and engaging for communities,” said Washington. “We were able to decrease some of the burdens relating to cancer that we have seen prior to and during the pandemic.”
In creating awareness of colon cancer, Washington stressed a powerful African-American proverb (“Each one, teach one”) to take the knowledge one has gained to teach another. “By reaching one member of the community, that person can give others information and encourage them to get screened,” she said.