Whether Assemblyman Cymbrowitz is providing free flu shots, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol tests or a host of other screenings and talks throughout the year, I regularly hear positive feedback from many constituents.
The reasons so many community residents avail themselves of Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s free screenings include lack of health insurance, and the convenience of having the test in his stress-free office. Some want to check on an existing condition between doctor visits.
Several constituents related that the screenings uncovered conditions that required further medical attention. In one case, a constituent related that her husband’s dangerously high blood pressure was discovered by a screening and his life was saved. He could not afford health insurance and thus was not seeing a physician. Even knowing all this, I didn’t truly appreciate the value of our free screenings until this fall.
When a non-profit organization called Project Chernobyl set up a sonogram screening to look for thyroid cancer in Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ office, I eagerly took advantage of this convenient evaluation not because I or my family ever resided near Chernobyl, but with the knowledge that my family has a predisposition for thyroid problems.
As I leisurely lay back for the sonogram in the privacy of Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s darkened office—turned into a temporary sonogram lab—I watched image after image captured by the technician spew from the machine and onto the floor. My comfort turned to concern. I was assured by the technician that there was nothing to be alarmed about and the doctor would review the images and contact me in a few weeks.
Project Chernobyl screened just over 100 people in a course of five days. It was the first time Assemblyman Cymbrowitz sponsored such a screening, and the large demand for this particular test merited the need for additional days—which Project Chernobyl graciously agreed to. While this organization was created to screen those who emigrated from the area around the Chernobyl nuclear plant, it has expanded its intake to include testing anyone for thyroid cancer.
A few weeks can seem like an eternity when there is concern on your mind. In my exaggerated replay of events, I knew something I wouldn’t like must have appeared on those sonogram scans. I kept reminding myself that I had no symptoms and that every thyroid blood test I had ever taken was normal.
My concern, however, was warranted. The results, which came back in a few weeks, showed an abnormality that required further evaluation. I opted to use my own physician, but Project Chernobyl graciously offered to see me immediately.
After consulting with my doctor, I scheduled a nuclear test and a biopsy to find out what was picked up on the sonogram and whether any further medical intervention was necessary. Needless to say, I wasn’t looking forward to either test, but fortunately both proved to be worse in anticipation than in reality.
I am happy to say that although three nodules were found on my thyroid, it was determined that nothing beyond a follow-up checkup in two years was required. Furthermore, the pathologist informed me that 75% of women have nodules on their thyroids, but only 10% prove to be cancerous.
What the future will bring for my thyroid is anybody’s guess, but had I not taken advantage of Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ screening, I would never have been alerted to a condition that does in fact need to be monitored by a specialist.
The past few months have made me realize how important the screenings that Assemblyman Cymbrowitz schedules in his office can be. Fortunately, there turned out to be no serious health concerns in my case, but these simple screenings have the potential of identifying conditions that could be life threatening.
I intend to look over the calendar of future screenings with a keen eye, because I’ve learned the importance of preventive screenings.
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz provides a different screening or health talk each month, except January and February, for his constituents. To receive a schedule please either call or email his office at (718) 743-4078 or cymbros@assembly.state.ny.us.
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Laura Singer is a legislative assistant with Assemblyman Cymbrowitz who represents the 45th Assembly District.
