Breast and GYN Health Project

Our goals for 2021:
80% of all women newly diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer will receive support and information from the Breast and GYN Health Project

Assist at least 50 low-income women needing financial assistance with information and referrals to financial resources.

Strategy 1: Because most of BGHP's referrals come from family and friends, get the word out about BGHP services via presentations to groups throughout the region, attend health fairs, via social media and through BGHP's bi-annual newsletter.

Strategy 2: Because BGHP's second most common referral resource is healthcare providers, conduct targeted communications to primary care, surgeons and oncology practices to provide them information and tools for referrals.

BGHP offers a highly experienced, technically competent team to meet our mission to assist our local community as its members face breast or gynecologic cancer. Experienced RN Co-Client Services Director, Experienced Co-Client Services Director specializing in Young Women, and our Physician Medical Consultant work with trained peer support volunteers to assist clients with cancer concerns or cancer diagnoses. The Executive Director has over 20 years experience with resources for cancer patients and local health care providers.

BGHP's staff work closely with client's medical teams - primary care, local oncology and out of area oncology - to help patients try to have the best outcome possible. The Physician Medical Consultant attends many of the weekly tumor boards. The Executive Director attends the locally accredited cancer program's quarterly cancer committee meetings.

During 2020's COVID-19 pandemic, BGHP provided services in-person as well as offering volunteers/staff to work from home. Established clients experienced tremendous support which went uninterrupted. New client numbers dropped, as people had trouble and declined to seek care in the early part of the pandemic. As BGHP went into the Fall, people with cancer concerns and cancer began reaching out again, so our new client numbers returned to average levels.

In 2019, BGHP continued to assist over 400 local people (our clients) facing breast or gynecologic cancer concerns. This shows BGHP's impact, because recent California Cancer Registry estimates are that about 100 women will be diagnosed with breast and gynecologic (uterine and cervical) cancers annually in Humboldt and Del Norte counties combines. Most of these clients we assist are dealing with a cancer diagnosis, rather than a concern. The primary referral source is friends and family, followed by referrals from local medical providers.

Here are some specific outcomes from 2019:
* 386 patient navigation services were provided to clients to help them access not only medical services, but financial and social services resources too.

* 153 support group sessions were held of seven different groups. There were 628 support group attendees over the course of the year.

* 37 people with cancer concerns received decision support/ medical visit consultations with BGHP's Medical Consultant to help them become better educated about their diagnosis and treatment options.

* 83 special medical record binders were given out to people newly diagnosed with cancer

* 86 women sought help to obtain a free wig, breast prosthesis, bra, scarf, etc.

* Over 25 people with breast or gynecologic cancer received a specially-decorated ChemoKit bag filled with useful items to help them as they underwent chemotherapy.

Outreach: During 2019, BGHP reached 13,478 people in our community with messages about local resources and early detection.

Collaboration with local health care providers. BGHP continues to try to encourage local providers to directly refer patients with breast or gynecologic cancer concerns to BGHP for emotional support and education as they go through the diagnosis and treatment process.

Open Door Community Health Centers, our area's largest safety net clinic system has begun to include a site visit to BGHP as part of its new provider orientation to community resources.

In the Spring and Fall, BGHP distributes packets of useful resource information over 75 medical offices and hospitals in our region. There is material specifically for patients as well as for health care providers about BGHP support services, local resources for low-income women and referral forms.