May 4, 2004

Give your mother, daughter, aunt, grandmother, sister and/or mother-in-law the greatest gift of all this Mothers Day – the gift of life – by signing them up for a breast cancer screening.

6,885 women in Michigan were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. During 2001, 1,471 Michigan women died of the disease. One in eight women will develop cancer in the breasts, which makes breast cancer the most common type of cancer among American women.

The best defense is early detection. Mammograms and clinical breast exams remain the most useful tools in the early detection of breast cancer.

Since 1991, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has implemented a comprehensive Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) through a multi year grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With these funds, low-income women have access to life-saving cancer screenings and follow-up care. If cancer is detected, women are eligible to apply for Medicaid to cover treatment.

“Women across Michigan may seek these services from local health departments and contracted BCCCP providers,” said Janet Olszewski, Director, Michigan Department of Community Health.

Through the BCCCP, women who have breast and cervical cancer will be identified at earlier stages when the diseases are treatable, less expensive to treat and survival rates are more favorable.

“Early detection is the key to survival and the five-year survival rate among women whose breast cancer has not spread beyond the breast at the time of diagnosis is 97 percent,” said Jeffrey Dietch, DO, medical director of MPRO, Michigan’s Quality Improvement Organization.

MPRO facilitates the BCCCP by training coordinators who assist patients. By calling (800) 922-6266 low income women throughout the state can obtain a phone number for the BCCCP local agency closest to their home. The local agency will then assess each woman for eligibility.

“The best gift that a Mother can give her family this Mothers Day is to make an appointment to get screened,” Olszewski said. “The BCCCP’s purpose is to save lives through early detection.” To learn more about the BCCCP, visit online at www.michigan.gov/cancer or call (800) 922-6266