Conway Regional Health Foundation awarded grant to provide mammograms to uninsured women

The Conway Regional Health Foundation has received a $20,010 grant from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Arkansas Affiliate to help fund mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women in Faulkner, Conway, Perry, Van Buren and Cleburne counties.

The "Touching Lives: Breast Health for Women" program is providing breast health education, free screening mammograms and diagnostic procedures for women who are eligible. Women of all races are eligible for the program, and several breast health education sessions will target minority groups. Conway Regional is working with physicians' offices and community groups to develop these sessions.

"On behalf of the Conway Regional Health Foundation, we want to thank the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Arkansas affiliate for their commitment to helping us improve the health of women," said Jim Lambert, President and CEO of Conway Regional Health System. "This vital funding will help our program provide timely education and screenings to women who are least able to afford it."

Detecting breast cancer early

Finding breast cancer as early as possible allows for more treatment options and greatly improves the likelihood that treatment will be successful, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). In fact, early detection saves thousands of lives each year.

In an effort to increase early detection, a clinical breast exam is recommended as part of a regular health exam by a doctor for women beginning at age 35. Once women reach age 40 and older a yearly mammogram is recommended and should continue for as long as they are in good health.

Conway Regional uses Hologic Selenia digital mammography to provide all-digital mammograms at the Women's Center. In 2007 Conway Regional's women's imaging services conducted 11,334 screening and diagnostic mammograms.

To be considered for a free mammogram, call 450-9292 to schedule a mammogram and mention the Komen grant. Free mammograms will be given to those who qualify as long as funds are available. For more information about the Touching Lives program, call 450-2244 or visit www.conwayregional.org.

The Conway Regional grant was one of 28 presented to not-for-profit organizations throughout the state in April by The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Arkansas Affiliate. More than $1.2 million in grants was dispersed to fight cancer, which was the largest amount funded by the Arkansas Affiliate in its 14-year history.

"We are thrilled that our grant program continues to grow after 14 years," said Arkansas Affiliate Executive Director Sherrye McBryde. "This year we awarded $1,205,221 to 28 very worthwhile breast cancer projects around the state."

"The support that Arkansans provide to Komen for the Cure through the Race for the Cure and other events continues to grow with each year," McBryde said. "It is because of that support that we are able to offer grants to worthy organizations dedicated to the fight against breast cancer."

About the Komen for the Cure

Foundation

Komen for the Cure was established as the Komen Foundation in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Thanks to more than 75,000 volunteers dedicated to the fight against breast cancer, Komen for the Cure, with its Affiliate Network, is the world's largest private funder of community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and donors, Komen for the Cure has raised nearly $600 million for the fight against breast cancer.