PHILADELPHIA – For the third year, Penn Medicine is partnering with The American Cancer Society and WUVP Univision 65 to offer free mammograms to uninsured women in our community. This year, the annual “Amate a ti Misma,” or “Love Yourself,” event will also provide free cervical cancer screenings to women who do not have health insurance, or who have expensive co-pays. Appointments are available on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 and must be made in advance (more information below).
“In the United States, early 45,000 lives are claimed by breast and cervical cancers ever year,” said Carmen Guerra, MD, MSCE, FACP, associate professor of Medicine at Penn Medicine, and associate chief of staff at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center. “Though simple screening tests allowing for the early detection of these cancers are essential to every woman’s health, access and financial barriers can make it difficult for many woman to access the care they need. Events like Amate a ti Misma promote early detection and preventive care, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and saved lives.”
Current cancer screening guidelines from medical experts and organizations recommend that cervical cancer screenings should take place every three years for women beginning at 21 years of age, and at age 40, women should discuss their need for a mammography with their health care provider.
In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Healthy Woman Program offers free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services year-round for eligible women. Visit the PA Department of Health for more information.
For information on cancer screening guidelines, or if you have been diagnosed and need assistance, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
Free mammograms will be offered:
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 9, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Tuesday, May 9th
Pennsylvania Hospital
800 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Directions: https://www.pennmedicine.org/departments-and-centers/department-of-radiology/patient-care/locations
For appointments, call: The American Cancer Society, 1-800-227-2345
For free cervical cancer screenings, contact:
Ludmir Center for Women's Health
Pennsylvania Hospital
Garfield Duncan Building, 2nd Floor
700 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
For appointments, call: 215-829-3525
Puentes de Salud
1700 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
For appointments, call: 215-454-8000
*Spanish-English translators will be available at each site.
Funding for the event, including screenings and diagnostic work-ups, and patient navigation services, is provided by grants from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Healthy Women Program.
Penn Medicine is one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, excellence in patient care, and community service. The organization consists of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Penn’s Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the nation’s first medical school.
The Perelman School of Medicine is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $550 million awarded in the 2022 fiscal year. Home to a proud history of “firsts” in medicine, Penn Medicine teams have pioneered discoveries and innovations that have shaped modern medicine, including recent breakthroughs such as CAR T cell therapy for cancer and the mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System’s patient care facilities stretch from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania to the New Jersey shore. These include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Health, Penn Medicine Princeton Health, and Pennsylvania Hospital—the nation’s first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Penn Medicine at Home, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others.
Penn Medicine is an $11.1 billion enterprise powered by more than 49,000 talented faculty and staff.