KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - As part of Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day, local health organizations are coming together to promote health screenings for African American women over 40 years of age. The event will include mammograms, clinical breast exams, pelvic exams, and Pap test, provided at a reduced cost for women who qualify.
The community health event will be held at:
Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center
2101 East Yesler, Seattle
1 - 7 p.m., Wednesday, September 21
Women are encouraged to call to schedule an appointment for this event: 206-709-7407.
“By detecting cancer early, screenings can save your life,” said Dorothy Teeter, Interim Director and Health Office for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “These screenings provide a valuable opportunity for women who otherwise might not have the available financial resources.”
African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than other groups. Though breast cancer incidence rate is 37% higher in white women, breast cancer mortality rate is 67% higher in African American women.
For women age 40 and over, Public Health recommends:
- breast self exam every month
- clinical breast exam, Pap test and pelvic exam every year
- mammogram every 1 to 2 years
Annual screenings are important for all women, and this special event provides an opportunity to receive them at no cost for women who qualify. All women for whom cost or lack of insurance is a problem and who are not able to attend this event may call 1-800-756-5437 and ask about the Breast and Cervical Health Program. If women qualify for this program, the health exam and mammogram will be provided at no cost.
This event is organized by the Center for Multicultural Health, Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center, YWCA Women’s Health Outreach Program, Public Health - Seattle & King County, Swedish Medical Center’s Comprehensive Breast Center/Providence Campus, Komen Foundation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Washington State Breast & Cervical Health Program.
For more information on the Breast and Cervical Health Program, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/women/bchp.htm. For more information on Take a Loved One for a Checkup Day, visit: www.healthgap.omhrc.gov.
Public Health – Seattle & King County is among the largest metropolitan health departments in the country, providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services that achieve and sustain safer and healthier communities for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County . Answering the needs of an increasingly diverse population, Public Health - Seattle & King County touches people's lives every day through health promotion and prevention activities, disease surveillance, health care, outreach and referral services, environmental health services, emergency medical care, jail health services, and readiness and response to public health emergencies.
