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In the United States, breast cancer early detection testing is
available to low-income, underserved women who do not have health
insurance through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early
Detection Program (NBCCEDP). This program was created by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1991. It provides screening
support in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 4 US territories,
and 13 American Indian/Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations.
Screening services are mainly offered through non-profit
organizations and local health clinics. Through these NBCCEDP partners,
women without health insurance can get breast and cervical cancer
testing for free or at very little cost. The NBCCEDP attempts to reach
as many women in medically underserved communities as possible,
including older women, women without health insurance, and women who
are members of racial and ethnic minorities.
Though the program is administered within each state, the CDC
provides matching funds and support to each state program. In more than
15 years, the NBCCEDP program has provided almost 7 million early
detection exams to underserved women, diagnosed over 29,000 breast
cancers, over 94,000 precancerous cervical lesions, and over 1,800
cervical cancers.
Each state's Department of Health will have information on how
to contact the nearest program participant. For more information on
this program, please contact the CDC at 1-800-232-4636 or on the
Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp.
Revised: 09/11/2007
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