UC Davis Health is expanding access to free mammograms during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
By Stephanie Winn
Uninsured and underinsured members of the community are urged to make appointments now
(SACRAMENTO)
It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. An estimated 1 in 8 females will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Screening is key to catching breast cancer when it is most treatable.
The free mammograms will be offered on Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26. The screenings — by appointment only — will take place from 7:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the UC Davis Health Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center, 4860 Y St., Sacramento.
“Mammograms can show a breast lump before it can be felt and can also show precancerous cells or other conditions,” said UC Davis Health Department of Radiology Chief Elizabeth Morris. “Women should get regular screening mammograms to detect breast cancer annually starting at age 40. Women younger than 40 who have risk factors for breast cancer should ask their doctor if they should have a mammogram and how often.”
Who is eligible for the free screening?
The mammograms are for females aged 40 to 74 who have not had a mammogram in the past year and are not experiencing symptoms. Women with symptoms such as a lump, pain, swelling or discharge need a more advanced diagnostic mammogram.
“In Sacramento County, only 68% of eligible individuals are up to date on their breast cancer screening,” said Marissa Bashore, health education supervisor for UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer CenterOffice of Community Outreach and Engagement. “Regular screening mammography can help find breast cancer at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be successful. We urge all females over the age of 40 to get annual mammograms.”
How to schedule
To request an appointment, please call (916) 734-8449, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Ask to book an appointment for a free Breast Cancer Awareness Month screening mammogram.
Language interpretation services are available. Appointments are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Appointments fill up quickly, so call early.
UC Davis Health has partnered with the community health center WellSpace Health, to schedule additional diagnostic testing or follow-up care, if necessary.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated center serving the Central Valley and inland Northern California, a region of more than 6 million people. Its specialists provide compassionate, comprehensive care for more than 100,000 adults and children every year and access to more than 200 active clinical trials at any given time. Its innovative research program engages more than 240 scientists at UC Davis who work collaboratively to advance discovery of new tools to diagnose and treat cancer. Patients have access to leading-edge care, including immunotherapy and other targeted treatments. Its Office of Community Outreach and Engagement addresses disparities in cancer outcomes across diverse populations, and the cancer center provides comprehensive education and workforce development programs for the next generation of clinicians and scientists. For more information, visit cancer.ucdavis.edu.
