October 4, 2017

Oneida County Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

News Photo

Education, Cancer Screenings and Fundraising Takes Place throughout October

All October long, Oneida County will be taking part in a series of events for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month that will educate employees, encourage screenings and raise money toward finding a cure.

“Oneida County has continually made it a priority to proactively raise Breast Cancer awareness by engaging with our employees and the public through various educational efforts and events,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “Many of us have had our lives impacted by this disease in some way and know that preventative measures and early detection are big keys to winning the fight.”

The County Health Department’s Cancer Services Program will be educating employees and the public on Breast Cancer detection and prevention in a number of ways including information sessions, email newsletters and paycheck stuffers.

Full-time employees of Oneida County receive eight hours of paid leave per year to obtain cancer screenings, and in some cases, those without health insurance can have a screening paid for by the county’s Cancer Services Program.

To date in 2017, the county’s Cancer Services Program has assisted in providing 65 clinical breast exams and 77 screening mammograms to women without insurance.

Five of these women were diagnosed with breast cancer and are now receiving treatment under a specialized Medicaid program for people diagnosed with breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer.

“These five women may not have gone for a mammogram if it weren’t for the Oneida County Health Department’s Cancer Services Program, as they were uninsured,” said Oneida County Director of Health Phyllis Ellis. “Our program has a very important role in the New York State initiative to make breast cancer screening more accessible. It helps uninsured women get screened and then gets them the care and services they need.”

In addition, hundreds of pink ribbons will be displayed in the windows of the Oneida County Office Building on Park Avenue in Utica and the outside of the building will be lit pink for the entire month.

County Executive Picente is also participating in the American Cancer Society’s Real Men Wear Pink Campaign, in which he has pledged to wear pink every day in October in order to raise money for the fight against Breast Cancer.

The proceeds from money donated during an Oneida County Employee Dress Down Day that will take place on Oct. 20 will go toward Picente’s efforts.

List of Events and Activities for October

Month of October — County Office Building lit pink for Breast Cancer awareness.

Month of October — Hundreds of pink ribbons placed in windows of the Oneida County Office Building in Utica.

Month of October — Education on Breast Cancer and paid time off for cancer screenings through employee weekly wellness emails.

10/6 — Human Pink Ribbon at Murnane Field in Utica.

10/13 — Breast Cancer education provided by the Oneida County Cancers Services program to employees in the lunch room of the County Office Building.

10/13 — Breast Cancer education at the Clinton Manor Apartments in Clinton.

10/19 — Paycheck stuffer with information on Breast Cancer and paid time off for cancer screenings.

10/20 — Employee Dress Down Day in support of the County Executive’s Real Men Wear Pink fundraising campaign for the American Cancer Society.

Oneida County Partners