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1992.01.31 :  Awards for Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

Contact:  CDC Press Office (404) 639-3286
January 31, 1992

        HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced
awards totaling $11 million to Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska and
North Carolina, making a total of 12 states that have now joined
forces with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to develop
comprehensive breast and cervical cancer screening and early
detection programs, particularly for low-income, minority women. 
        Previous awards made in fiscal year 1991, averaging just
under $3 million each, went to California, Colorado, Michigan,
Minnesota, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.  
        CDC funds these programs under provisions of the Breast
and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990.
        "More than half a million American women will lose their
lives to these cancers this decade," Dr. Sullivan said.  "A
disproportionately large number of them will be women with low
incomes.  We have the technology to detect these cancers in an
early, curable stage, but many women don't routinely have
screening mammograms to detect breast cancer or Pap tests to
detect cervical cancer.  With these funds, states can go forward
with comprehensive approaches to prevent unnecessary deaths."
        "This program is being carried out in partnership with
the states, which are required to match each $3 of federal
funding with $1 of state funds," said James Mason, M.D.,
assistant secretary for health and head of the Public Health
Service.  "These awards are tremendously important in allowing
states to furnish screening for women who otherwise would not
have it.  Lives will be saved."  
     Greater access to screening services, increased education of
women and health care providers, and improved quality assurance
measures for screening mammography and cervical cytology are
among the strategies identified in this comprehensive public
health program to ensure that early detection practices are
available for all women.
        "The screening programs made possible by these awards are
significant in making prevention a practical reality,"  said
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 individual's physician. 
        Additionally, all women who are or who have been sexually
active or who have reached the age of 18 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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