LITTLE ROCK — The Washington Regional Cancer Support Home will partner with the Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center to offer a free breast and gynecological cancer screening on Saturday, May 8 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m, at the Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center. The clinic is located at 10 S. College Avenue in Fayetteville.

The examinations are offered at no cost to the public and are performed by physicians and registered nurse practitioners. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, please call 479-271-2257. Spanish-speaking women may call 713-7921 to schedule an appointment with interpreter assistance.

It is important to note that the exam consists of a manual breast exam (not a mammogram), a PAP smear, and a limited pelvic exam performed by a licensed practitioner. Mammography and imaging services may be provided for women without insurance coverage and who meet the financial requirements. Spanish-language interpreters are available on the day of the clinic for Spanish-speaking women.

The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2009, about 11,270 cases of invasive cervical cancer would be diagnosed in the United States.

Between 1955 and 1992, the number of cervical cancer deaths in the United States dropped by 74% because of the increased use of diagnostic PAP testing.

This type of screening procedure can find early cancer in its most curable stage.

According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an estimated 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2010.

Although often overshadowed by the promotion of regular mammograms, clinical breast exams are an important part of breast cancer screening and should be thought of as a complementary technique to mammography.

Komen for the Cure recommendations include mammograms every year starting at age 40, and annual clinical breast exams by a health care provider.

About Cancer Support Home:

Washington Regional operates two Cancer Support Home sites, one in Fayetteville and another in Bentonville. Ino peration since 1995, the Cancer Support Home is supported by grants from the Cancer Challenge, Susan G. Komen for the Cure- Ozark Affiliate, as well as by corporate and individual contributions.

For over a decade, Washington Regional Cancer Support Home and the No Excuses Breast Cancer Outreach Program have strived to identify and eliminate excuses women give for neglecting their regular cancer screenings. This free screening is offered in an effort to stress the importance of early detection of cancer, and is made available through grants received from Susan G. Komen for the Cure- Ozark Affiliate, and a Wal-Mart Home Office Local Choice grant.

Community, Pages 4 on 03/31/2010