Loretto Hospital is offering free mammogram services to residents of Austin, Berwyn and Cicero as part of a grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Those who qualify can receive a free screening mammogram, diagnostic mammogram, or breast ultrasound. While a screening mammogram is an annual checkup, a diagnostic mammogram occurs when there is a lump or pain in the breast and often includes more specialized mammograms and a breast ultrasound.
One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. To improve those odds, the foundation distributed grants to hospitals like Loretto that cater to underserved communities.
“Within underserved communities, because of lack of access, the mortality rate increases greatly because [breast cancer] goes undetected,” said Amy Henwood, lead mammography technician at Loretto Hospital.
According to officials, one of the best ways to keep breast cancer from shortening your lifespan is with early detection and treatment.
Mammograms are one of the best ways to catch breast cancer before you can see or feel it on your breast. But access to mammograms, and their cost, can be prohibitive.
Mammograms also often require a physician’s order to schedule, and it can be costly and time consuming to put another doctor’s appointment on an already full calendar. But when patients set up a mammogram through the new Loretto Hospital program, the hospital will make them an appointment and have a doctor’s order ready for them when they come in for the appointment, both free of charge.
Loretto is also offering free transportation to and from the hospital for those seeking free mammogram services.
Another barrier to entry to getting preventative care for breast cancer may be what people have heard from those who have gotten mammograms in earlier years.
“People often hear their mothers or their grandmothers or their aunt talk about how horrible their mammogram was, and it hurts so bad, so people don’t want to get it done,” Henwood said. But with advanced technology, she adds, Loretto’s machines make mammograms not nearly as painful as they once were.
How to sign up for a free mammogram
To qualify for free mammogram services, Austin, Berwyn or Cicero residents must have an income of no more than 200% of the federal poverty level, as well as no medical insurance or a co-pay that makes it difficult to access care.
Henwood said the industry standard is that women should begin getting annual mammograms at age 40. She added that giving yourself monthly breast exams are also important.
“A lot of my patients come in and say, ‘Well, I didn’t feel anything, and I have no pain, so I don’t know why I have to get this exam,’” Henwood said. “But unfortunately, half of breast cancers that are found are through imaging.”
Though October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Henwood estimates that the grant will likely cover free mammogram services through December, which is when the money is expected to be used up. But Henwood advises those interested in accessing these services to make an appointment as soon as possible.
“I would recommend them getting the appointments sooner than later before that money runs out,” Henwood said. She added that Loretto Hospital can often schedule same-day appointments.
“Our main goal of this grant is to spread awareness to the community and provide access to every woman who needs to have this done,” Henwood said. “Early prognosis is the best way to target these cancers.”
To see if you qualify for a mammogram appointment, or to schedule one, go to lorettohospital.org or call 773-854-5220.