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1991.08.01 :  Awards for Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

Contact:  Gayle Lloyd (CDC) (404) 639-3286
August 1, 1991

        HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced
awards totaling $23 million to eight states to develop
comprehensive breast and cervical cancer early detection
programs, particularly for low-income minority women.  
        Awards for fiscal year 1991, averaging just under $3
million each, went to California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota,
New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.  The awards
were made through the Centers for Disease Control, an agency of
the Public Health Service within the Department of Health and
Human Services. 
        "Over a half million women will lose their lives to these
cancers this decade," Dr. Sullivan said.  "A disproportionately
large number of them will be women of low income.  We have the
life-saving technology to detect these cancers at an early,
curable stage, but many women don't routinely have mammography
screening to detect breast cancer or a Pap test to detect
cervical cancer.  With these funds, states can go forward with
comprehensive approaches to preventing unnecessary deaths."
        The eight state health agencies will now begin routine
screening mammograms and Papanicolaou testing for women of low
income.
        James O. Mason, M.D., assistant secretary for health and
head of the Public Health Service, said, "These awards are
tremendously 
important in allowing states to furnish screening for women who
otherwise probably would not have it.  Lives can be saved."
        CDC funds these programs under provisions of the Breast
and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990 (Public Law
101-354).  This law makes screening and follow-up services
accessible to women who are less likely to receive adequate
health care.  Women of low income, especially those who are
uninsured, encounter significant difficulty in obtaining
screening services due to the cost of the procedure.  This
program is being carried out in partnership with the states, who
are required to match each $3 of federal funding with $1 of state
funds.

        In addition to providing mammograms and Pap tests, state
health agencies will provide appropriate referrals to ensure
medical treatment and follow-up for women who have a positive
screen.  The quality of screening procedures will be closely
monitored, and surveillance systems will track breast and cervical
cancer incidence.  Public education campaigns focusing on the
benefits of early detection will be directed to health care
providers and to all women in each state who should be screened
according to the current recommended guidelines.

        "The screening programs made possible by these awards are
significant in CDC's mission of making prevention a practical
reality," said Dr. William L. Roper, director of CDC.

        Breast cancer screening should begin at the age of 40. 
Women with no apparent breast abnormalities or symptoms should have
an annual clinical breast examination.  Mammographic screening
should be performed every one to two years.

        Beginning at age 50, both a clinical breast examination and
screening mammogram should be obtained annually.  Screening
guidelines apply only to asymptomatic women.  The frequency and
type of examination for symptomatic women will vary and should be
determined by the responsible physician.

        Additionally, all women who are or have been sexually
active or who are at least 18 years old should have an annual Pap
test and pelvic examination.  After a woman has had three or more 
consecutive satisfactory annual examinations, the Pap test may be
performed at the discretion of her health care provider.


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