Loretto Hospital Offers Free Mammography Services To West Side Residents

Loretto Hospital has received a grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation to provide free mammograms to people who live on the West side. PHOTO BY LORETTO HOSPITAL.
Loretto Hospital has received a grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation to provide free mammograms to people who live on the West side. PHOTO BY LORETTO HOSPITAL.

Loretto Hospital Offers Free Mammography Services To West Side Residents

By Tia Carol Jones

Loretto Hospital has received a grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation to provide free mammograms to people who live on the West side. The hope is that with more access to these services, early detection will happen, which will save a person’s life.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The National Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1991 by Janelle Hail, a breast cancer survivor. The organization’s mission is to help women by providing hope and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, support services and education. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Loretto Hospital has been around since 1923 serving the community and low-income populations. The hospital serves more than 33,000 patients every year.

Amy Henwood is the Lead Mammography Technologist at Loretto Hospital. The hospital provides screenings, diagnostic and imaging services, as well as ultrasound. The hospital also offers biopsies in the form of ultrasounds, using state-of-the-art equipment that has 3D imaging. This is the first year the National Breast Cancer Foundation has awarded Loretto Hospital a grant to offer free mammography services.

Patients who are qualified for free mammograms will have an income of no more than 200% of the federal poverty level, have no medical insurance, or have a co-pay that makes it difficult to access care. Patients need to have a physician’s order to receive the mammography services, which might include a screening mammogram, a diagnostic mammogram and or a breast ultrasound, as needed. Patients who live in the following zip codes are eligible: 60651, 60644, 60624, 60623, 60612, 60402, 60632 and 60804.

“A lot of these patients don’t have access to this care or these screenings. It’s so imperative for them to get these screenings. We’d like to give them the opportunity for them to get these screenings,” Henwood said.

Henwood believes that early detection is very important in the diagnoses and treatment of this disease. Unfortunately, some women in the community don’t always have access to these screenings because of their financial situations. For women who do need a diagnostic study, Henwood said the grant would continue with their diagnostic study – additional imaging with ultrasounds and mammograms.

Henwood said that with the Black community, because of lack of access to the screenings, the rate of progression of the disease is greater. She said every woman deserves to have access to these screenings and have a chance to get treatment, which can save their lives.

Also, since transportation has been another barrier in women getting access to breast cancer screenings, the hospital is offering free transportation to get the screenings. Loretto will also work with the team of medical providers to facilitate getting the doctor order to get the screening. Henwood said being able to get people to the hospital with free transportation and getting them the doctor order they need to get the screening cuts out a lot of the barriers. She added, there are appointments available. The goal is to make getting mammography services a smooth process.

Henwood wants women to come in to get a mammography screening, starting at age 40 and continuing those exams annually, or if you have a family history of breast or uterine cancer, the recommendation is starting at 35.

“If breast cancer is found early, when it is small and has not spread, it is easier to treat successfully. Getting a regular screening test is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early,” Henwood said.

For more information about Loretto Hospital, visit www.lorettohospital.org, or call 773- 626-4300.

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