July 8, 2010 (Richmond Heights, Mo.) - SSM Breast Care at SSM St. Mary's Health Center received a grant from the St. Louis Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for $78,501.24. The Komen St. Louis Affiliate grant will provide SSM St. Mary's Empower and Engage Program with the funding to make it possible to provide direct breast health-care services for uninsured and underserved women in our community for breast cancer screening, diagnostics, treatment, education and essential support programs.
The economic slowdown has greatly expanded the number of underinsured and uninsured women in the metro St. Louis area that qualify for the Empower and Engage program. But of particular concern to Laura Foerster, who heads the Empower and Engage program, is to help screen and educate women of ethnic groups experiencing higher breast cancer mortality rates.
During 1999-2006, breast cancer incidence rates among white, Asian-American and Pacific-Islander women declined slightly, according to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Web site. However, the incidence of breast cancer among African-American, Hispanic/Latina and American-Indian/Alaskan-Native women remained mostly unchanged.
In the St. Louis region, there is a significant burden of breast cancer in the African-American community. According to the Missouri Cancer Registry, African-American women reported a mortality rate 53 percent higher than Caucasian women from 2003 to 2005 but have a lower incidence rate of breast cancer than Caucasian women. African-American women are also more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage¯when the cancer is less treatable and, as a result, are significantly more likely to die from breast cancer than Caucasian women.
In St. Louis City and County, African-American women are reported never having a mammogram at higher rates than Caucasian women, comprising 68.2 percent of the service-area breast cancer deaths.
Research indicates that besides receiving recommended mammography tests some disparities that would explain the difference in mortality rates between African-American and Caucasian women include access to care, stage at diagnosis and a difference in treatment received after diagnosis.
The Empower and Engage program at SSM Breast Care at St. Mary's Health Center, located at the Medical Building at 1031 Bellevue Ave., uses the Affiliate grant funding to provide mammograms and breast care education for qualifying women, which includes those who are 40 or older with no insurance or insurance that doesn't pay for mammograms, and never had a mammogram or haven't had one in more than 13 months. Qualifying candidates should contact the Empower and Engage program, which reserves the third Wednesday of each month, to make reservations. However, immediate exceptions are made throughout the month for patients presenting with symptoms. To make an appointment or to find out about qualifications, call Laura Foerster, (314) 768-8697.
Empower and EngageJuly 21Aug. 18Sept. 15Oct. 20Nov. 17Dec. 15Free mammograms, clincal breast exams and breast-care education are available for qualifying women at SSM Breast Care at St. Mary's Health Center, located in Medical Office Building 1031 on Bellevue Ave. To qualify, women must be 40 or older with no insurance or insurance that doesn't pay for mammograms, and never had a mammogram or haven't had one in more than 13 months. Appointments should be made in advance by contacting Laura Foerster at (314) 768-8697. |
