May 03, 2017
Penn Medicine is partnering with the American Cancer Society and Univision for a free event next week that will provide mammograms and cervical cancer screenings to women who are uninsured or who have high copays on their health insurance plans.
The annual "Love Yourself Event" (Amate a ti Misma) aims to underscore the importance of getting screened according to current guidelines, which recommend that cervical cancer screenings take place every three years for women beginning at 21 years old. At age 40, women are advised to discuss their need for a mammography with a health care provider.
“In the United States, nearly 45,000 lives are claimed by breast and cervical cancers every year,” said Carmen Guerra, an associate professor of medicine and associate chief of staff at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center. “Though simple screening tests allowing for the early detection of these cancers are essential to every woman’s health, access and financial barriers can make it difficult for many women to access the care they need. Events like Amate a ti Misma promote early detection and preventive care, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and saved lives.”
Mammograms will be offered Tuesday, May 9, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pennsylvania Hospital, located at 800 Spruce St. Appointments can be made by calling the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 and directions to the hospital can be found here.
Cervical cancer screenings will be held the same day at two locations. The Ludmir Center for Women's Health, housed on the second floor of Pennsylvania Hospital's Garfield Duncan Building, will accept appointments at 215-829-3525. Puentes de Salud, located at 1700 South St., will accept appointments at 215-454-8000. Spanish-English translators will be available at each site.
Funding for the event is provided by grants from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Healthy Women Program, which also offers free year-round breast and cervical cancer screenings for eligible women.
