Mary was 42 years-old and felt a lump in her breast for over a year.
She was afraid to go to the doctor because she didn’t have insurance and didn’t know how she would pay for a mammogram. By the time she went to the emergency room, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and was very difficult to treat.
Did you know that if breast cancer is diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate is 91%?
Unless, you are a black woman. Then the survival rate drops to 81%. Why is that?
Breast cancer in black women tends to happen at a younger age and is often more aggressive. Black women often delay seeking evaluation for a lump in their breast because they are uninsured or afraid of the cost.
The Tennessee Breast and Cervical Cancer program pays for free mammograms in Tennessee residents who are uninsured and low income. Follow up testing and treatment is also covered. If you or someone you know is worried about a lump in her breast, please don’t wait, even if you don’t have insurance.
Call your local health department to find out where you can get your mammogram. Tell your friends, your sisters, your daughters don’t wait.
This is Dr. Susan Nelson with Church Health.