CHICAGO – After attending the launch of the Community First Medical Center’s Hereditary Cancer Screening Program, State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D- Chicago) is encouraging people with a known family history of cancer to get screened through the new program.

“Modern technology has come a long way, and programs like this are revolutionary for identifying early signs of cancer,” Pacione-Zayas said. “Early identification is key to successful treatment, and I am excited to see how this new program helps people in our community.”

Community First Medical Center is a safety net hospital on the northwest side of Chicago offering a wide variety of acute and outpatient services. The hospital’s Outpatient Specialty Clinic has teamed up with Myriad Genetics, Inc. to offer MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Screenings to men and women who have a known personal or family history of cancer.

The event included over 30 patients who registered for testing based on their cancer risk and others who participated in walk-in appointments. The clinic plans to offer testing at future events on an ongoing basis moving forward. Screening can help people better understand the causes of cancer, allow for earlier identification at a more treatable stage, prevent secondary cancer and help people with the disease qualify for certain clinical trials.

“We are so grateful that Senator Pacione-Zayas personally visited our Outpatient Specialty Clinic today to help raise awareness in our community for cancer screenings,” said Mariela Hernandez, the Clinical Operations Managers of the Specialty Outpatient Clinic at Community First Medical Center. “Cancer screening rates amongst Latinos is far below the national average, and as a Latina, this needs to change.”

For further information or to schedule a screening appointment, please contact Mariela Hernandez at 773-527-5071 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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PHOTO ATTACHED: State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas gets screened at Wednesday’s launch of Community First Medical Center’s Hereditary Cancer Screening Program.