Parkview LaGrange Hospital today announced the implementation of its new mammography screening program, “Compression with Compassion,” made possible by a start-up grant from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust. The “Compression with Compassion” program will provide financial assistance for uninsured women from LaGrange County to get a screening mammogram at Parkview LaGrange Hospital.
In May of 2009, the American Cancer Society estimated a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer to be 1 in 8 and that breast cancer would be the cause of death in 1 in 35 women. The good news is that the death rates from breast cancer have been decreasing steadily since 1999, mainly due to the increase in early detection through screening and increased awareness, and improvements in the treatment of the disease. The ACS guidelines for early detection of breast cancer recommend a clinical breast exam be part of a woman’s regular health check-up every three years from ages 20 to 30 and every year at age 40 and older. An annual screening mammogram is recommended for all women beginning at age 40. Women with higher risk factors for breast cancer, or with a family history that includes the disease, should talk with their doctors about specific screening recommendations for their circumstances.
The mission of the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Inc. is to increase awareness and improve access to breast cancer screening and diagnosis throughout Indiana. Any Indiana resident may purchase an Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness license plate by visiting their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch or the BMV website at www.in.gov/bmv. Of the $40 specialty plate fee, $25 is a direct tax-deductible donation to the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust. Since the breast cancer license plate first became available in 2002, more than $700,000 has been distributed by the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust through competitively awarded grants to organizations throughout the state for innovative projects for screening mammography services. These services may not otherwise be available to medically underserved populations in Indiana.
For additional information about the “Compression with Compassion” program at Parkview LaGrange Hospital, or to apply for mammography assistance, please contact Randy Packer, social services coordinator, at 463.9280.