ACAP encourages women to consider breast health

    PRESQUE ISLE – Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP), partnering with the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program (MBCHP), is encouraging women age 40 and older to obtain low cost breast and cervical cancer screenings this October in an effort to promote increased awareness about the benefits of early detection.     Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer among women in the United States and the second (only to lung cancer) leading cause of cancer-related death. In 2008, the American Cancer Society estimated 990 women would be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 190 would die from breast cancer. With regular screenings, early detection is possible increasing the breast cancer survival rate to 98 percent within the first five years of diagnosis.
    MBCHP will pay for a variety of health services for women who qualify to include mammograms, breast exams, pap tests, internal pelvic exams, and limited diagnostic or follow-up services.
    To qualify for services, you must be a woman living in Maine age 40 or over, with no health insurance, or having health insurance that will not pay for mammograms or pap tests, or have a high insurance deductible and meet income guidelines.
    For more information about these services, please call the MBCHP at 1-800-350-5180 or the ACAP office at 1-800-432-7881.