This grant is going to allow us to provide important breast cancer screenings to women who have been unable to receive these kinds of screenings in the past,” says Steve Shattls, Valley Health CEO.

The women who are eligible to participate in the screening mammogram program are those who do not qualify for a screening mammogram through the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, either because of their age or because they are not considered high risk.

Joy Hakala and Dee Messinger, both Registered Nurses at Valley Health, authored the grant proposal because no other program in West Virginia funds breast cancer screenings for this age group.  The Screening Mammogram Outreach Program is the only way for uninsured and underinsured women between the ages of 40 and 49 to receive affordable screening mammograms.

“There are currently breast cancer screening programs in West Virginia, but they do not begin breast cancer screenings until the age of 50.  The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women start having regular mammograms at the age of 40,” Hakala clarifies.  “This grant allows us to provide screenings to women who need mammograms but do not qualify for the other programs because of their age.”

Valley Health - A Woman’s Place received this funding in 2006, and Hakala says around 60 women received breast cancer screenings as a result.  For a woman to receive a screening this year, she must first be seen as a patient at any Valley Health location and determined in need of a breast cancer screening.  Once a need is established, Valley Health Systems will coordinate and fund a screening mammogram at an area hospital.

For more information about Valley Health breast cancer screenings or to schedule an appointment, please contact Lanie Masilamani at 304-525-3334 x5150.