FOR RELEASE: August 24, 2004
CONTACT: Pamela Williams
Office of Communications
405/271-5601

New Breast and Cervical Screening Site Opens in Oklahoma City

A new breast and cervical cancer screening site in Oklahoma City was announced today by the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s (OSDH) Take Charge! Program.

The OU Physicians Family Medicine Center at 900 N.E. 10th St. in Oklahoma City now provides additional access to breast and cervical cancer screening for persons in Oklahoma County. Regular clinics are scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. This program is a partnership between the OSDH, the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service and participating health care facilities.

In Oklahoma, cancer rates are higher in minority populations, who make up a quarter of the overall population. Of note, African American women living in Oklahoma are almost twice as likely to die from breast cancer as any other race or ethnic group.

OU Physicians Family Medicine staff encourage all women over the age of 40 to have an annual clinical breast exam and mammogram.

The Take Charge! Program offers no-cost clinical breast exams, Pap smears, and a coupon for a mammogram to women who meet the following program guidelines:

• low income; and
• not covered by insurance, or with a high unmet deductible; and
• not covered by Medicaid or Medicare; and
• between the ages of 50-64.

If you would like to have a cancer screening exam and believe you meet the program guidelines, please call the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) for more information or to be transferred to the health care facility nearest you.

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