New Program to Increase Breast Cancer Screenings in the Panhandle

Panhandle Breast Health is making strides to protect from cancer with their Positively Pink Breast Cancer Screening Initiative. 

The program is made to increase the up-to-date mammography rate in a 9-county area and by extension, decrease the number of breast cancer deaths. 

Amarillo Area Foundation’s Louise Bowers Slentz Advise and Consult fund is underwriting the program for its 1-year pilot run. 

The goal is to provide access to free mammogram screenings to uninsured women 40 and older who have not had a screening in the last year and whose income is below 400% of the poverty rate. 

All nine counties in this area that are part of the initiative fall below the statewide average of 74.9% of women who have had mammograms within the last 2 years. 

PBA contracts with Baptist St. Anthonys for these services and will continue to educate people on cancer screening guidelines and breast cancer survivorship support.