Mercy St. Francis Hospital and the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks (BCFO) are teaming up to offer a free 3D mammogram screening event Thursday for uninsured and underinsured women.
The screenings will be available from 8 to 10 a.m. at Mercy St. Francis Hospital, located at 100 U.S. Highway 60 East in Mtn. View. No appointments are required.
To qualify for the free screening, participants must be at least 40 years old and present a photo ID. Women currently experiencing breast issues or concerns are advised to follow up directly with their health care provider.
“Early detection saves lives, and we know if patients don’t have access to affordable health care, they often forego this lifesaving screening,” said Meagan Walkenhorst, chief operating officer at BCFO.
While many disease rates are declining, research indicates breast cancer incidents are rising and increasingly affecting women under 50. Doctors generally recommend annual mammograms beginning at age 40 to catch the disease, which is the second-leading cause of death among women in the United States.
“A simple mammogram screening can be the difference between catching breast cancer when it’s in stage 1 versus catching it at stage 4,” said Trish Rees, radiology services manager at Mercy St. Francis. "Our ability to provide patients with 3D mammograms means we can catch more cases of breast cancer and catch them early."
For more information about the event, call 417-934-7000.
