Free Mammograms Available Through State's Comprehensive Cancer Screening Program, Minnesota

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Article Date: 15 Oct 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a televised phone bank on WDIO TV - Channel 10 on Thursday, October 9 to promote free mammograms offered through Sage, the state's free breast and cervical cancer screening program. As an added bonus, newly enrolled women will also receive a $20 gift certificate for getting screened. Advertisements stressing the importance of detecting breast cancer early, and encouraging women to take advantage of the Sage Screening Program, will also run throughout the entire event. The toll free number, 1-888-6-HEALTH (1-888-643-2584), will be answered 5 a.m. - 7 p.m., and voice messages can be left anytime outside of these hours.

During this day-long event, MDH hopes to make more women in northern Minnesota aware of this free program. "We think there are women in this part of the state who are not receiving these life-saving screening tests, perhaps because they have no health insurance or their insurance has deductibles or co-payments they cannot meet." said Jonathan Slater, Chief of Cancer Control, MDH.

The Sage Screening Program offers free breast and cervical cancer screening to uninsured and underinsured women age 40 and over with its network of nearly 400 local health care providers statewide. Since this program began in 1991, Sage has served nearly 111,000 women, and almost 1,400 have been diagnosed and treated for breast and cervical cancer.

This year in Minnesota, 3,090 women are estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 630 women will die from it. Annual mammography has been reported to reduce breast cancer deaths in women age 40 and older by detecting breast cancer in its earliest stages when it is most easily treated.

Women who want more information on eligibility for the free mammography program - or who want to make an appointment for a free mammogram - should call Sage at 1-888-6-HEALTH.

For women who live in neighboring states or those whose incomes exceed Sage's guidelines, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn of other free and low-cost programs.

More information on the Sage screening program is also available here.

Minnesota Health Dept