High Risk Breast Cancer Screening for Women Under Age 40
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure has awarded the Allegany County Health Department with a grant to provide funding for breast cancer screening to women under the age of 40 who reside in Maryland, who are uninsured or underinsured, and fall within financial guidelines.
Women who qualify will receive a free clinical breast exam and mammogram. Any woman under 40 with a personal history of breast cancer, or a family history (mother, sister, daughter) with breast cancer should call the health department to schedule a free breast screening.
Any woman under 40 with symptoms of breast cancer such as: lump or thickening in the breast, change in size or shape of breast, or nipple discharge that starts suddenly or is bloody should call the health department to schedule a free breast screening.
Breast screenings are scheduled by the Allegany County Health Department, but are provided at local participating health care provider offices and mammogram facilities.
Early detection saves lives! Please let us help! Call us at 301-759-5083 to see if you qualify and to schedule your free screening now.
You may also log onto www.Komen.org for more helpful information regarding breast health, breast screenings, and breast cancer.
This program provides free mammograms, clinical breast examinations,
and pap testing to women who meet the following guidelines:
1.
Must be a Maryland Resident
2. Age 40-64
3. No health insurance or insurance does not pay for the above screening
exams
4. Income falls within the specified Federal income guidelines (click the following link for current information).
Area
health care providers who participate with the program will complete
the physical exam.
Please call 301-759-5083 to see if you qualify
for these services and to make an appointment.
Breast
Health:
Breast
Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths to women in Maryland.
Being a woman is the #1 risk factor for breast cancer. Other risk
factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer include:
Getting older
Having a
personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
Having a
mother, daughter, or sister who has breast cancer
Recently
using hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and/or progesterone).
Even
if you do not have any of these risk factors, you can still develop
breast cancer.
Early detection saves lives!
Get
a clinical BREAST EXAMINATION AND MAMMOGRAM ANNUALLY BEGINNING
AT AGE 40.
When
performing a self breast examination monthly, (as recommended by the
Komen Foundation), look for these signs and symptoms of possible problems
in your breast and underarm area. If you notice any of them, call
your health care professional right away:
Lumps, hard knot, or thickening in any part of the breast
Unusual
swelling, warmth, or redness that does not go away
Dimpling
or puckering of skin of your breast
Itchy or
scaly sore or rash on nipple
Pulling
in of nipple or other parts of breast
Nipple discharge
that starts suddenly
Pain in
one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle
Nipple discharge
that is bloody
What
is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical
Cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells develop in the tissues
of the cervix (opening of the uterus). The cervix connects the uterus
to the vagina. Before cancer cells appear on the cervix, the tissues
of the cervix go through changes. A pap test will usually find these
cells. When it is found and treated EARLY, cervical cancer
can be CURED! Your body gives you no early warning signs that
you are developing cervical cancer. Once you start feeling bad enough
to see your doctor, it could be too late. Routine screening tests
could save your life!
For
more information on breast and/or cervical cancer, click on the links
below:
American
Cancer Society: www.cancer.org
Susan
G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: www.komen.org
