This year, it is estimated that 3,520 Minnesota women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 640 Minnesota women will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
Annual mammography has been reported to reduce breast cancer deaths in women age 40 and older by detecting the disease in its earliest stages when it is most easily treated.
Women can learn about breast cancer and the benefits of screening and early detection of the disease during October, declared Breast Cancer Awareness Month across the nation and in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Health Sage Screening Program provides year-round, free breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured women age 40 years and older.
MDH hopes to make more women in Minnesota aware of this free program.
"We think many women are not receiving these life-saving screening tests because they have no health insurance or their insurance has deductibles or co-payments they cannot afford to pay. Sage can help," said Jonathan Slater, director of Cancer Control at MDH.
Sage has a network of more than 430 statewide health care providers, and has served over 138,000 women since 1991. More than 2,000 women have been diagnosed and treated for breast and cervical cancer through Sage.
In International Falls, the free mammograms are available at the Koochiching Family Planning Clinic, 205 Third St., and the Rainy Lake Medical Center hospital campus.
Call Sage first and it will coordinate with the local providers, according to Doreen Swendsen, nurse practitioner at the Koochiching Family Planning Clinic.
Swendsen said people may call the clinic at 283-6188 for more information.
The free mammograms would be provided after a clinical breast exam, which takes less than half an hour, said Swendsen.
Swendsen said the number of women receiving mammograms is decreasing.
“I don’t know if women are scared or confused about how often they should get them, or if a number of factors are involved, but (mammograms) are important.”
Women seeking eligibility information about the free mammography program, or women who want to make an appointment for a free mammogram, should call Sage at 1-888-6-HEALTH (1-888-643-2584).
Women new to Sage are also eligible to receive $10 for getting screened through the program. Women living in neighboring states or whose incomes exceed Sage’s guidelines should call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn of other free and low-cost programs.
