FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography has received a $29,000 grant from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IBCAT), which disburses grants made possible by the sale of breast cancer awareness special recognition license plates and other financial donations.
The IBCAT grant will be used to provide mammograms for women who do not have sufficient financial resources. This supports the ongoing work of Francine’s Friends to remove barriers to mammography screening.
“Our mission is to make life-saving mammography screening easy and convenient by removing barriers, such as transportation or costs,” said Marita Dwight, mammography director, Parkview Health. “We are grateful for the support of the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, as well as everyone who purchases the pink ribbon license plate or donates to their cause. IBCAT’s funds stay here to improve access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis and support services for your fellow Hoosiers.”
Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography helps improve access to screening for all women, not just those facing financial barriers to care. The coach provides screening mammography to women age 35 and older, with or without health insurance, who have not had a mammogram within the past 12 months. Many health insurance plans are accepted.
The Francine’s Friends coach travels five to six days a week, visiting 11 counties in northeast Indiana. On average, the coach provides approximately 3,500 mammograms per year. In 2021, however, it provided only 2,900 mammograms, following a national trend of declining cancer screenings as a result of the pandemic.
“Early detection is key to the treatment of breast cancer,” Dwight said. “Don’t put off your screenings any longer. Your next mammogram could potentially save your life.”
For more information about Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography, including the current schedule of public stops, click here.
