Mammogram is the single most useful tool in breast cancer screening if utilized properly according to center of disease control and prevention (CDC). Every woman over age 40 or age 30 in high breast cancer risk families need screening mammogram every 1-2 years. In today’s standards, any breast cancer screening and prevention program without mammography falls below the minimum standards of breast cancer screening.
What is a mammogram? A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast.
Mammograms are used to detect breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. A mammogram done when no signs or symptoms of breast cancer exist is called a screening mammogram. Screening mammograms involve or images, of each breast. These images are carefully evaluated by a radiologist to detect tumors that cannot be felt by Self Breast Exam (BSE) or Clinical Breast Exam (CBE). Screening mammograms can also find microcalcifications (tiny deposits of calcium) that sometimes indicate the presence of breast cancer. Mammograms done when signs and/or symptoms of breast cancer exist are called diagnostic mammograms. We focus on screening mammograms.
Why is mammogram important? Early detection means treatment can be started early before breast cancer spreading to other organs.
Early detection of breast cancer with a screening mammogram means that breast cancer treatment can commence earlier in the course of the disease, possibly before it has spread. Studies have shown that screening mammography can help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer among women ages 40 to 70, especially for those over age 50 by as much as 40%.
How much does a Mammogram cost? Cancer Free Women Foundation aims at making mammograms free in East Africa.
For most women with private insurance or employer subsidized insurance, the cost of screening mammograms is covered with minimal copayments or deductibles. Since majority of women in Kenya & East Africa are not insured, our goal is to make screening mammograms free or affordable to the vast majority. This is made possible by breast cancer donors and volunteers.
How does Cancer Free women Foundation Help? Through Sponsors, donors and volunteers, we make breast cancer screening through mammography a reality to East African Women
Donors, sponsors and volunteers from all over the world support breast cancer screening a possibility in Kenya and East Africa. Donors include hospitals, manufacturing companies, software companies, churches, businesses and individuals.
Sponsors fund awareness campaigns, group events like church breast cancer screenings, equipments purchases or overall success of the program. Example, PoaPay limited donates KSH 500 per every remittance in the month of October
Volunteers are donors who not only donates money but also their time and expertise in their area of knowledge relevant to breast cancer prevention, education, screening or treatment