PBMC, Riverhead’s Latino advisory committee partner to offer free cancer screening

Peconic Bay Medical Center, in collaboration with Riverhead Town’s Hispanic Development, Empowerment, and Education Committee, recently held a free colorectal screening event at the Nueva Jerusalén Christian Church. 

The event, held on March 29, is the inaugural program launched by the Riverhead Town’s Latino advisory committee, which was formed in early February. According to organizers, 36 residents were tested using a fecal immunochemical test, or FIT. PBMC said comparable events are held regularly in other communities throughout the town. 

According to Roberto Elias Salcedo, pastor of the Nueva Jerusalén Christian Church for 31 years and member of the Riverhead Town’s Latino committee, one of the four priorities the group seeks to focus on, and for which they have formed a subcommittee, is educating the Latino community on health issues and connecting them with local resources. The other three subcommittees address economic development, culture and recreation, and community outreach.

“Our main priority is to be the bridge between the Latino community and Riverhead Town,” said Salcedo. “Many people are afraid, especially now with the political climate, and don’t want to expose themselves, but it’s important that they have the information they need, that they know where they can go, and that  local resources exist to take care of their health, and that of their family.”

Salcedo said this is the first of four health events planned for this year in collaboration with PBMC.  He said that educational workshops by hospital doctors will precede the events and give the community the opportunity to ask questions and clarify doubts.

According to the Long Island Community Health Survey published in January 2025, 81% of Latinos who responded said they had preferred not to receive medical care in 2024 due to cost, which severely limits their access to crucial preventive tests.

“Colorectal cancer is highly preventable if detected early,” said Dr. Steven Ouzounian, Medical Director of Quality and Chairman of the Cancer Committee at Peconic Bay Medical Center. “However, many people delay screening tests due to lack of knowledge or access. Events like this make a significant difference by providing education and crucial testing to those who need it most.”

In New York, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in adults, according to data published by the Department of Health. About 3,000 people die each year, according to the agency. The growing incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer may disproportionately affect Latinos given the differences in age distribution in relation to the total U.S. population, according to a study published in 2019, something that PBMC verifies at the local level.

“We are seeing colorectal cancer diagnoses among Hispanics under 50 years of age in our community, an alarming trend that requires greater community outreach,” said María Rodríguez, health promotion coordinator at PMBC. “These events allow us to reach directly to our neighbors who most need these vital services.”

The FIT test offered during the event is a non-invasive method that detects early signs of cancer by analyzing stool samples. Experts from the American Cancer Society note that routine colorectal screening tests can reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer by up to 70% and decrease the risk of mortality by up to 68%.

The event at the Nueva Jerusalén Church also provided access to the Cologuard kit, a screening method that can be done at home and then sent to the laboratory, which detects both abnormal DNA and blood in stool samples. Having this option to take this type of test is particularly important for the Latino community, as according to a satisfaction survey conducted among event participants, the local Latino community would face barriers to accessing medical centers, including transportation difficulties and inflexible work schedules.

Residents who could not attend the event can obtain more information about free colorectal cancer screening tests by calling the PMBC assistance line at (631) 548-6000 or visiting pbmchealth.org/care-centers-services/services/cancer-services.

Salcedo indicated that the Riverhead Hispanic Development, Empowerment, and Education Committee will soon have a dedicated page on the Town’s website, where local Latino residents will be able to consult when they have questions or want more information about local resources.