The program director of Lone Star Circle of Care’s Big Pink Bus visited the State Capitol this week to advocate for people who rely on the mobile mammography unit.
The American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network of Texas invited Rebecca Sorensen to testify in front of the Texas Senate Committee on Finance on Tuesday. She discussed how the Big Pink Bus helps local women access low-cost and free mammograms. Some of the free screenings are funded by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Services (BCCS) program. Rebecca spoke in support of the state increasing funds for the program, to ensure that people don’t miss out on breast cancer screenings because of financial barriers.
Rebecca highlighted the story of a Big Pink Bus patient whose breast cancer was detected in its early stages and treated. Thanks to funding from BCCS, the patient had the opportunity to get that lifesaving screening for free. Before becoming eligible for BCCS, the patient had never had a mammogram.
It is important for women to receive regular screenings to detect breast cancer in its early stages when it is easier to treat. Without regular checkups, there is a chance that a woman will not recognize breast cancer symptoms until the later stages when the survivability rate significantly decreases. According to American Cancer Society recommendations:
- Women between 40 and 44 can start annual mammograms.
- Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms annually.
- Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year or continue annual mammograms.
To schedule an appointment with the Big Pink Bus, please call 1-844-PINK-BUS.
