A new grant will help Tanner Health System to provide even more mammograms for women who could not otherwise afford them.
Tanner was awarded $36,168 by It’s the Journey Inc. The grant will fund screening mammograms through Tanner Breast Health’s Mammography on the Move mobile mammography unit for uninsured area women who could not otherwise afford one. Tanner’s Mammography on the Move provides screening mammograms at various locations in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties.
The grant is one of 28 awarded by It’s the Journey this year to breast cancer programs across Georgia.
Through this grant support, Tanner is seeking to serve more than 125 women with screening mammograms on the mobile mammography unit in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties by the end of August 2015. By the end of the grant period in February 2016, Tanner aims to reach more than 275 women through It’s the Journey-funded screening mammograms on the mobile unit.
Any patient with family income up to 200 percent (two times) of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) based on family size is eligible to receive a 100 percent discount for a screening mammogram on Tanner’s Mammography on the Move mobile mammography unit through It’s the Journey grant support.
Should the patient need further diagnostic and/or surgical care, she will be eligible for assistance through the Tanner Patient Financial Assistance Program.
“We are thankful to It’s The Journey for helping us continue on our mission to promote breast health while providing greater care for breast cancer patients in west Georgia,” said Venita Steed, RN, program director of Tanner Breast Health. “These funds will help us further assist area women who would not otherwise have access to these life-saving tests. We hope that these mobile mammography outreach efforts bring us one step closer to reducing the impact of breast cancer in our communities.”
The American Cancer Society and the patient care team at Tanner Cancer Care and Tanner Breast Health recommend annual screenings using mammography and clinical breast examination for all women beginning at age 40.
Individual appointments on Tanner’s mobile mammography unit can be made by calling Tanner Central Scheduling at 770.812.9721. For a list of all upcoming dates and locations for the mobile mammography unit, choose “Mammography” under the Categories menu on the Classes and Events Calendar at www.tanner.org. To reserve Tanner's Mammography on the Move unit for your church, civic club, health fair or business, call Tanner Breast Health in Carrollton at 770.812.9531.
More information on breast care services at Tanner is available online at www.TannerBreastHealth.org.
It’s the Journey produces the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, an annual endurance walk that raises funds for breast health and breast cancer programs in Georgia. In 12 years, It’s the Journey has raised $11 million and funded 242 breast cancer and breast health programs in the state. The 2015 Atlanta 2-day Walk for Breast Cancer takes place Oct. 3-4. To register for the walk, visit www.2daywalk.org.