Protesters want funding for cancer program

ALBANY - A statewide breast cancer screening program for uninsured or underinsured women could be a victim of budget cuts.

That has folks on the forefront of that battle fighting back.

"I am living proof that this program is saving lives," said 65-year-old Karen Gatto of Colonie.

Gatto says she owes her life to a free mammogram provided by the New York State Cancer Services Program. That program pays to keep mobile mammography units rolling.

"My husband was retired after a career at Pepsi for 35 years. We were too young for Medicare. So we had no health insurance," she recalled.

Along with mammography, the cancer services program offers cervical and colon cancer screenings. That's why Miss USA Kristen Dalton, who advocates for breast and cervical cancer screening, made the trip to help lobby lawmakers.

"My Grandmother was diagnosed with colon cancer," Dalton said. "She died from liver cancer and when she was diagnosed was told that the cancer had originated in her colon."

Sadly, as Dalton explained, her grandmother hadn't been told to have a routine colonoscopy.

The American Cancer Society argues early cancer detection improves the odds of survival, which in turn saves the cost of more extensive treatment.

While the proposed state budget maintains the program, there's no specific appropriation for screening.

"New York used to aim to reach 20 percent of eligible women for screening. Now the expectation under current funding is a mere 10 percent," said Diana Martin of the American Cancer Society.

While thousands of people signed banners and cards to drive home the need to keep the program funded, this group hopes just a few moments with Karen Gatto seals the value of the program.

"Please keep this program strong," Gatto said, "so many grandmothers like me can live to see my grandbabies. Thank you."

As the American Cancer Society points out, with the economy still reeling and so many layoffs and cutbacks, the free cancer screening program is needed now more than ever.