Purpose
The Paris C-STEP project (Cancer Screening, Training, Education and Prevention Program) will help to eliminate barriers to cancer screening through a grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Paris (CPRIT). Grant funding enhances the ability of the Paris A&M Physicians Family Medicine Center to provide free cancer screenings to residents of the Brazos Valley who are uninsured or low-income qualifiers.
Through training opportunities associated with this grant, an increased number of family medicine practitioners will develop an expertise in conducting cancer screenings, such as colonoscopy, and performing advanced diagnostics associated with breast and cervical cancer. The clinic uses community health workers, known in Spanish as Promotoras, to make the cancer screenings more accessible, affordable, and culturally relevant, and to provide patient navigation services through a trusted resource.
Paris C-STEP is dependent on referrals. Anyone can make a referral or potential patients may self-refer. Most referrals come from C-STEP partnerships with local health care providers that serve safety-net populations. Pastors, social workers, agencies and family members are other sources for referral.
The following screening or diagnostic services are available to qualifying residents of Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, Walker, and Washington counties:
- Colonoscopies
- Clinical Breast Exams
- Colposcopies
- Loop Electrosurgical Excisions
- Mammograms
- Pap tests
- Ultrasound Guided Needle Biopsies
- Abdominal/Pelvic CT scan
- HPV Vaccination for persons ages 12-26 years
Due to our recent grant expansion, we are also able to provide colonoscopy services to the following additional counties: Freestone, Limestone, Falls, Milam, Lee, Waller, Trinity and Houston.
