Cancer is the second leading cause of death in New York City, killing approximately 13,000 New Yorkers every year.
Prevent and Detect Cancer
According to the NYC Health Department, cancer is the second leading cause of death in New York City and kills approximately 13,000 New Yorkers every year. Two major cancers – cervical and colorectal – are preventable.
Colonoscopies are critical in preventing colorectal cancer and substantial and sustained funding from the New York Community Trust to the Fund for Public Health in New York (FPHNY) helped DOHMH achieve its original goal of screening 60% of New Yorkers age 50 and over – ahead of schedule.
In 2003 41.7% of adults age 50 and over reported having a colonoscopy and by 2007 the level had reached 61.7%. Private funding for this project allowed DOHMH to rapidly pilot test a project, expand it to multiple sites, evaluate it and demonstrate its effectiveness in patient care and cost savings to both public and voluntary hospitals. This public-private partnership helped NYC achieve colon cancer screening goals, set a new and more ambitious goal (80% by 2012) for colon cancer screening, and is emblematic of the promise that comes from public-private partnerships. The Journal Health Affairs published an article on this and other public-private partners. Click here to read the article and see the links below for descriptions of this project and other public-private partnerships that are helping NYC Health Department advance its agenda on cancer prevention and control.