Hospital Receives $33,000 Breast Cancer Grant

MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Susan G. Komen Project Coordinator,Tami Gaido (right), proudly displays a ceremonial check presented by a Susan G. Komen for the Cure representative.

MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and Health Connections is pleased to announce that once again they received funding for the renewal of a Pink Ribbon Project grant from the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The $33,458 grant will be used to provide free breast exams, mammograms, sonograms and surgical consults to eligible women. Available now through March 2013, the project covers eligible women in all three Southern Maryland counties.

Eligible candidates are under 40 years old and are under- or uninsured; have an abnormal lump in or near the breast; or have a significant family history of breast cancer. The program is important because there are state and federal programs to assist low-income women in need of breast and cervical screenings age 40 to 64, but nothing has been available for women younger than 40.

MedStar St. Mary’s Pink Ribbon Project Coordinator Tami Gaido stressed seeking the exam only if a person meets the grant’s criteria. Unnecessary mammograms before the age of 40 have a risk due to additional radiation exposure. Routine mammogram screening begins at age of 40 as a woman’s risk of breast cancer increases.

Although the grant does not cover surgery, there are other programs available, such as the Diagnosis and Treatment Program through the state of Maryland. Gaido is available to assist women with the application if more care is needed.

Source: Medstar St. Mary’s Hospital