Bergen County Cancer Program Honored as “Local Hero”
On Tuesday, July 12th, a crowd clad in pink gathered inside the showroom of the Difeo BMW in Tenafly, to witness the presentation of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Local Hero Award to the Bergen County Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED) Program. The CEED program was honored for their on-going efforts to combat breast cancer. Since the program's inception in September 1996, over 12,000 women and men have been outreached and educated about the importance of screening for breast and other cancers. Over that same time period, 1,300 women were screened, diagnosed, and/or followed up, with 16 receiving a positive breast cancer diagnosis.
On an average year in Bergen County, 812 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 171 will die of the disease. The best survival rates occur for those who are diagnosed early with the disease.
County Executive, Dennis McNerney congratulates members of the Bergen County Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED) Program on their recent “Local Hero” award from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and BMW of North America, LLC. The CEED program staff was recognized for their efforts to reduce breast cancer deaths through free cancer education, breast cancer screening exams, and mammograms.
Pictured L-R: Susan Crandall, Marge Doremus, Rosemarie Hannan, Elizabeth Burton, Pat Casey, Pilar Pineda, Sue Jean Choi, Krystyna Gadaj, Debbie Hamlin-Aggrey, Margaret Macali, and Dennis McNerney.
The Bergen County Cancer Education and Early Detection Program is working to help people receive early diagnosis by offering free breast exams and mammographies to women who meet program guidelines.
In addition to screening for breast cancer, the CEED program also provides free cervical cancer screening for women, prostate cancer screening for men, and colorectal cancer screening for men and women. Participants in the program must be Bergen county residents*, uninsured and meet age and income requirements. To find out more about the Bergen County CEED program call 201-634-2660. Spanish, Polish, and Korean language interpreters are available.
The CEED program is coordinated by Bergen County Department of Health Services, and funded by both the federal government and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has also helped underwrite the cost of client transportation to and from their breast cancer screening/treatment related appointments.
*The CEED Program provides services statewide. For information on the program in the county nearest to you, call 1-800-328-3838.
