Little Rock— Some women feel they are too busy to worry about breast and cervical cancer.  Some believe it won't happen to them or think it is not in their family.  Others trust they are too young or too old to get it anyway.  Unfortunately, every woman is at risk of getting breast cancer, and it is the second most common form of cancer in women.  Fortunately, there are ways women can protect themselves from this deadly disease.  During National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, April 16 through April 22, the women of Arkansas are encouraged to begin protecting themselves from this disease by calling Arkansas BreastCare for information about breast and cervical cancer, its early detection, diagnosis and available treatment options.

"Cancer is an equal opportunity disease with no regard for age, race or social status," said Dr. David Bourne, M.D., Medical Director of the Preventive Health Section at the Arkansas Department of Health.  "Every woman is at risk, and every woman should be aware of the lifesaving benefits of early detection."

African-Americans are about 34 percent more likely to die of cancer than whites, and a massive one-fifth of African-American women over the age of 65 in Arkansas are not using mammograms as a tool for early detection.

Monthly breast self-exams, clinical breast exams and annual mammograms after age 40 are the three necessary steps all women should take to detect breast cancer early.  Yet many women fail to perform monthly breast self-exams and avoid getting an annual mammogram because they think it will be painful while others believe they cannot afford one.

"So much misinformation has been reported about mammograms," said Dr. Bourne.  "The truth is mammograms only last a few seconds and any discomfort someone may feel is over quickly.  In fact, the mortality rate from breast cancer could be reduced by 30 percent if all women 50 and older would get annual mammograms.  When you think in terms of saving a life, I can't think of a reason why anyone would not want to have a mammogram."

BreastCare, a program administered by the Arkansas Department of Health, is available to help dispel this fear and the misinformation many women in Arkansas have about breast cancer.  Created in 1997 after the Arkansas General Assembly passed the Breast Cancer Act, BreastCare provides public and professional education, screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer to those women who qualify.  BreastCare is dedicated to saving the lives of the women of Arkansas through early detection of breast and cervical cancer.

Women in Arkansas can call BreastCare's free number, 1-877-670-CARE (2273), to ask questions and get information about breast and cervical cancer.  BreastCare personnel will determine a woman's eligibility for a free mammogram or Pap test during the call. To qualify for these services, women in Arkansas must be:

• Between the ages of 40 and 64


• at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)


• uninsured or underinsured.

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