Free Breast Cancer Screenings in Methuen and Lawrence
Health issues and information are always in the news for being vital to our wellbeing and with the new mandate that everyone must have health insurance, we tend to think that is the case. We often see free educational programs and take it for granted that they are part of a marketing program, ignoring that there is a need in our communities because there are many families without the benefit of health insurance.
Last week, Lawrence General Hospital offered a free breast cancer screening for women aged 40 and older who have not had a mammogram in the past year and do not have health insurance. This took place on June 1 at Methuen Medical Center and June 2 at Lawrence General Hospital.
Dozens of women took advantage of that opportunity and during my conversation with some of them, discovered that the situation is much worse than believed. Many families earning low wages simply cannot afford the cost of health insurance and find themselves paying a huge penalty at the end of the year when preparing their tax returns.
The situation in our communities is dismal and they said sometimes it is decision between paying for insurance or some other important bills. A few times each year, Lawrence General Women’s Health Imaging locations offer 3-D mammography, or Breast Tomosynthesis, which provides radiologists with a detailed, 3-D view of the breast and results in earlier and more accurate detection.
The American Cancer Society recommends that all women over the age of 45 obtain regular mammography screenings and also have the opportunity to be screened annually beginning as early as age 40 in consultation with their primary care physician. Early detection of breast cancer gives a woman her best chance for a cure.
Without these free services, many women would only find out of this malignancy when it is too late. The same for many other free services Lawrence General offers throughout the year for the entire family like free child safety car seat inspection, free oral, head and neck cancer screenings, etc.
