CHW to host Crucial Catch Day – Intercept Cancer Oct. 27 Funding for mammograms still available to CHW patients with no insurance

GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – Join Coastal Health & Wellness (CHW) as it hosts Crucial Catch Day – Intercept Cancer, set for Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

The event, hosted in partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and The National Football League (NFL), aims to increase access to cancer education, prevention and screening resources to underserved communities. Mammography screenings will be offered at the event.

The event will also include breast and colorectal cancer education and family-friendly activities including professional face painting and tattoos, football toss and Zumba, along with blood pressure and vision screenings. There’s even free food including barbecue, snow cones, cotton candy and popcorn.

Children can dress up as their favorite NFL team player or cheerleader and join in a costume parade.

ACS, as part of its Community Health Advocates Implementing Nationwide Grants, last year awarded CHW an 18-month $75,000 grant to offer breast and colorectal cancer screenings in Galveston County. Funds help support CHW efforts to improve access to screening, reducing cancer screening disparities and increasing outreach and education to Galveston County residents.

Grant funds pay for mammogram screenings and, if needed, diagnostic mammograms and biopsies if a mass is found.

“Any Coastal patient who comes in and doesn’t have insurance, we sign them up,” said Michelle Peacock, CHW nurse case manager and Crucial Catch event coordinator. “This definitely meets a community need. We have patients who don’t have access to insurance that covers a mammogram, much less any further testing needed. This allows us to meet that need and give our patients peace of mind.”

CHW partners with UTMB to offer breast cancer screening days every two months or so at CHW’s Texas City location. To date, 80 screenings have been offered.

“Coastal patients who do not have insurance have been referred to receive a screening. We’ve even cold-called patients who haven’t been to see us in a while, but still meet the qualifications – having no insurance and being a CHW patient,” Peacock said. “This is important. These patients more than likely wouldn’t be able to have a mammogram.


otherwise and we want to ensure we reach everyone we can.”

Funding does not cover breast cancer treatment, but patients may sign up for cancer Medicaid, Peacock said. Funds expire March 31 and Peacock said CHW plans to do all it can to offer screening days until funds are gone. Additional screening days will be scheduled after the Crucial Catch event.

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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2 million volunteers saving lives in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 25 percent decline in the cancer death rate in the U.S. since 1991, driven by less smoking, better treatments and earlier detection. We're finding cures as the nation's largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings and more. For more information, to get help or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

About Coastal Health & Wellness
Coastal Health & Wellness is Galveston County’s Community Health Center, with clinics in Texas City and Galveston. CHW offers high-quality primary medical, dental and counseling services. Medicaid, Medicare and many major insurance plans are accepted and discounted rates offered for eligible patients. For more information, call (409) 938-2234 or visit www.coastalhw.org.