Initiative provides potentially life-saving breast cancer screenings to uninsured women 40 and older across Northwest Florida
Ascension Sacred Heart has launched a new free mammogram program to provide critical breast cancer screenings to uninsured women across Northwest Florida. Uninsured residents over 40 years old are eligible for the screenings. Funding for the program comes from generous donors to the Sacred Heart Foundation.
“Sacred Heart Foundation is committed to ensuring no woman goes without an essential breast health screening,” said Adrienne Maygarden, President of the Sacred Heart Foundation. “Too often, women, especially mothers and caregivers, put their own health on hold. With more than one-third of women behind on critical appointments like mammograms, the need is real. Thanks to the support of our community, we are helping remove barriers and provide access to potentially life-saving care.”
According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early and remains localized, the five-year relative survival rate is 99 percent. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Florida, with more than 17,000 new cases diagnosed each year. But only about half of the women over 40 living in Bay, Walton, Okaloosa and Gulf Counties get an annual screening as recommended.
The free mammogram program is available to women who:
- Are 40 years of age or older
- Are uninsured
- Are seeking a preventive screening and have no current breast health symptoms
- Have seen a primary care provider within the last 2 years
The screenings are conducted at four locations in the area:
- Walton and Okaloosa County residents
- Ascension Sacred Heart Women’s Diagnostic Center – Emerald Coast in Santa Rosa Beach 850-278-3980
- Ascension Sacred Heart Women’s Diagnostic Center – Watersound Origins 850-278-3441
- Bay County residents – Ascension Sacred Heart Women’s Diagnostic Center – Bay in Panama City 850-804-3909
- Gulf and Franklin County residents – Ascension Sacred Heart Women’s Diagnostic Center – Gulf in Port St. Joe 850-229-5680
Women seeking a free mammogram can call their nearest location above to schedule an appointment. To find the location near you, visit ascension.org/sacredheartmammogram. To support this program with your generous donations to the Sacred Heart Foundation visit givesacredheart.org.
RSS
