The Southern Tier Cancer Services Program will be partnering with Arnot Health to offer FREE mammograms, breast exams, pap tests, and colorectal cancer screenings in the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
“The key to early detection and successful treatment is screening”, said Denise Argetsinger of the Cancer Services Program. Cancers that are found early have a 90% treatable and beatable rate. The cancer services program offers free mammograms to women 40 – 64 who are uninsured as well as to women who have high deductibles. Uninsured women under the age of 40 who find an abnormality in their breast should also call us. They also offer pap tests and colorectal screenings to the uninsured and those with high deductibles which is a financial barrier to getting screened.
Every Friday in October mammograms are being offered by appointment or on a walk in basis from 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm at the Women’s Health Center. Arnot Health has opened their doors so that community residents can benefit from the FREE screenings, and prevent serious illnesses from developing or progressing. Without screenings health outcomes for our residents are not good the longer they delay getting tested.
Mammograms are designed to find things as small as a grain of salt, long before you can feel something or palpate anything in the breast. Pap tests and colorectal screenings are also extremely effective at detecting cancers long before there are any noticeable symptoms. Often these cancers are found when it is too late, but these free walk in screenings make it easy for everyone to get checked.
Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange urges women to get the free screening and possibly save your life. “My sister and many family and friends have been diagnosed with breast cancer. My sister was one of the lucky ones, she caught it early, was treated and has been cancer free for many year,” Strange said. “Early detection is the key to beating the dreaded disease.”
For more information call Denise Argetsinger of the Southern Tier Cancer Services Program at 607-873-1500 or via email at dargetsinger@co.chemung.ny.us