Cindy

Cindy is a 64-year-old widow. She has been a patient at the clinic for three years. Her income from Social Security is a little over $1,000/month. She pays $400/month in rent.

Her list of diagnosis and medications are fairly typical for someone of her age at the clinic: osteoarthritis, acid reflux, hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol) and depression. We provide her with the medications she needs. We see her about once a month to refill medications.
Last October she was able to get a Pap and mammogram through the BCCCP. BCCCP is a program funded with federal dollars to provide low-income, uninsured and underinsured women access to breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. These services include clinical breast examinations, mammograms, Pap tests, pelvic examinations, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) tests, diagnostic testing if results are abnormal, and referrals to treatment.

 Then, around the first of the year, she found a lump in her breast. She came in to see our physician right away. We ordered an ultrasound which confirmed a solid mass 2 centimeters in diameter with a diagnosis of “highly suggestive of malignancy.”

She has seen a surgeon for a biopsy; now we wait for the results. Fortunately, it has been found early and she will have the resources she needs through the BCCCP program.