S.C. Allocates $2M To Expand Breast, Cervical Cancer Screening Program For Low-Income Women

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Breast Cancer;  Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Article Date: 04 Jul 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday announced the state has allocated $2 million to expand a program that provides no-cost breast and cervical cancer screenings to low-income women, the AP/Charlotte Observer reports.

The program, called the Best Chance Network, has provided services with federal funding to about 8,000 women over 17 years -- or about 10% of those who have been eligible to receive the screenings. The $2 million in additional funding approved by state lawmakers this year will enable an additional 9,000 women to receive screenings through the program. The state funding will allow officials to expand the program to cover women ages 40 and older. Currently, only women ages 47 and older can receive screenings through the program.

An estimated 40,000 women who have never or rarely been screened for breast or cervical cancers are eligible for the program, according to state health officials. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in South Carolina, the AP/Observer reports. About 1,000 women in the state die from the disease annually (Collins, AP/Charlotte Observer, 7/1).

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