National Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

It was estimated that a little over 4,000 women would die from cervical cancer in 2016, and that nearly 40,000 women would die from Breast Cancer during that same time period. Both of these diseases can be screened for and treated properly if found early.

Solutions

To help combat these issues a special program was created to provide early detection testing for at-risk women. Those who are low-income, uninsured, under-insured, or under-served in the United States are eligible for testing through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). If uninsured and diagnosed through the program most women can get cancer treatment through the Medicaid program in their state.

The CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention operate the program. They use local health clinics and non-profit groups to provide services such as screenings. Many times women who would not other wise have received a screen get life changing news and are able to find help because of the NBCCEDP and their partners.

The program is available in:

• All 50 States
• The District of Columbia
• 5 U.S. territories
• 11 American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and their organizations

Because the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program strives to reach out to as many neighborhoods as possible with women who may be at risk for being under-served, they try to include as many communities with women who may be recent immigrants, women of different ethnic and racial minorities, and older women who are low-income.

The services which are are provided during the cervical and breast cancer examinations consist of:

• HPV testing
• Pap test
• Clinical breast exams
• Mammograms
• Pelvic exams
• Diagnostic testing for irregular test conclusions
• Treatment Referrals

Resources

Funding is provided and each state receives support from the program. More than 4.6 million have been provided with care. Thanks to the NBCCEDP with more than 11 million screening tests provided, out of which 64,000 women resulted in being given early detection for breast cancer and 167,000 precancerous abnormal cervical cells discovered, with more than 3,500 serious cases of invasive cervical cancer found, and they had the chance to get treated before it was too late.

Many of these services are now covered through your insurance and some require no co-pay because of the Affordable Care Act. Give us at Whitefish Family Doctor Medical Clinic a call today to schedule your yearly well women’s check up. Early detection can save lives.