Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings

Blagojevich Administration urges women in the Metro East to register for free breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment

Expanded program began September 1, call 1-888-522-1282 to enroll

Since 2003, nearly 42,000 women received free screenings through state program

CENTREVILLE, Ill. – On behalf of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director, today urged Illinois women who don’t have health insurance to sign up for a newly expanded state program that provides free screenings and treatment for breast and cervical cancer.

Women can find out how to get breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment by logging on to www.cancerscreening.illinois.gov or by calling the Women’s Health-Line at 888-522-1282 or for TTY (hearing impaired use only), 800-547-0466. Information on IBCCP and other women health issues and programs can also be found on the IDPH website, www.idph.state.il.us.

On Mother’s Day, Gov. Blagojevich announced the expansion of the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) enabling up to 3,000 more uninsured, low-income women in the state to be eligible for free cancer screenings and treatment. The expanded program took effect last Friday, September 1.

“When it comes to breast and cervical cancer, early detection is the key to survival. When breast cancer is diagnosed early, the survival rate is 96 percent, and cervical cancer is also treatable if detected early. Early detection means finding the cancer before you see the symptoms. But unfortunately, for many women who are uninsured, regular screening is not a realistic option,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “By expanding the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, 3,000 more women will have a shot at early detection, and for those who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, they can now get free treatment even if they were diagnosed outside our system.”

Since the Governor took office in 2003, the State has given more than 111,000 breast and cervical cancer screenings through programs provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which includes more than 82,600 screenings provided for nearly 42,000 women through IBCCP.

Before the expansion on September 1, IBCCP offered mammograms, breast exams, pelvic exams and Pap tests to women at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), or $40,000 for a family of four. The Governor’s expansion raised the income threshold to 250 percent of the FPL, or $50,000 for a family of four.

To be eligible, a woman must be uninsured and between the ages of 40 and 64 for mammograms and breast exams, and between 35 and 64 for pelvic exams and Pap tests. On a case-by-case basis, younger, symptomatic women who meet the financial and insurance guidelines are considered for the program.

“We are extremely pleased that the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program is being expanded to provide more at risk women with access to early detection and treatment for these devastating diseases. In collaboration with our community partners, we have screened over 2000 St. Clair County women over the past five years resulting in 32 individuals having the disease detected and treated in its early stages. Without this program, it is very likely that these women would not have had their illness detected until later stages resulting in untold suffering and decreased life expectancy,” said Kevin Hutchison, St. Clair County Health Department Executive Director.

The most recent statistics show 8,604 women in Illinois were diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer in 2003. That same year, 2,057 women in Illinois died from breast or cervical cancer. It is estimated that almost 9,000 women will be diagnosed with either breast or cervical cancer this year.

An October 2005 study by the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network Collaborators estimated that breast cancer screening reduced the rate of death from breast cancer by up to 23 percent, and found that treatment is likely to be more effective if cancer is detected at an earlier stage.

“No one knows what causes breast cancer or how to prevent it. But if breast cancer is found and treated early, women have a much better chance of surviving. In fact, mammograms are the most effective tool doctors have for detecting breast cancer early and saving lives. And cervical cancer is preventable and curable, which is why regular Pap tests are so important. The Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program reaches out to women who may otherwise not be able to afford these important screenings,” said Dr. Whitaker.

Previously, if a woman was eligible for IBCCP, but was diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer outside of the program, then she was not eligible for treatment. The Governor’s expansion allows women who meet IBCCP eligibility requirements, but are diagnosed outside the current IBCCP sites, to go straight into the free treatment program through the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. This gives women more choices and also avoids penalizing women who did not know about the program but who were screened and diagnosed by their doctor, community health center or other health care facility.

Approximately 425 Illinois women a month receive treatment as a result of IBCCP referrals. With the expansion of eligible women into IBCCP and the entry of more women from other providers into the Treatment Act services, the number of women receiving treatment is expected to double.

Gov. Blagojevich has made other significant contributions to promote and improve women’s health including:

Increased funding for women’s health: Governor Blagojevich has consistently made women’s health a priority, allocating $24.1 million in state funding for women’s breast and cervical health programs over the last four years. This year, Governor Blagojevich allocated $2.1 million in new funding to increase eligibility for life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings to women with incomes up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
Illinois Healthy Women program: The Healthy Women program has helped women across the state who are losing their Medicaid eligibility stay healthy and promoted healthy births by providing comprehensive coverage for reproductive health care, including annual physicals, Pap smears, mammograms, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives. More than 214,000 women have been offered this program since its inception in 2004.
Signed women’s health legislation into law: Last summer, Gov. Blagojevich signed several pieces of legislation affecting women’s health in Illinois. The “Ticket for the Cure” is a new lottery game to raise money for breast cancer research and services. Senate Bill 12 requires insurance companies to cover screening for breast cancer earlier in a woman’s life if her doctor considers her to be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. House Bill 3564 expanded and renamed the Penny Severns Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund to include ovarian cancer research. Senate Bill 521 requires insurers to provide coverage for ovarian cancer screening tests for women who are at risk. In 2004, Gov. Blagojevich also signed legislation creating a 12-member Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force to help educate the public about cervical cancer and develop a statewide comprehensive prevention and control plan.
Stand Against Cancer Initiative: Beginning in 2003, Gov. Blagojevich funded the Stand Against Cancer (SAC) initiative, a community outreach and screening program targeting the hardest to reach minority women. It is conducted by a coalition of neighborhood organizations, churches and Federally Qualified Health Centers. In fiscal year 2005, SAC provided more than 17,000 breast and cervical cancer screenings and reached more than 47,200 other women outside of IBCCP through educational programs and outreach.
Hispanic Breast and Cervical Cancer Initiative: In 2005, Gov. Blagojevich launched the Hispanic Breast and Cervical Cancer initiative, which is closely patterned after the Stand Against Cancer initiative. Women screened through the initiative who subsequently need diagnostic tests are referred to local IBCCP lead agencies.
IllinoisWISEWOMAN Program: Providing the WISEWOMAN cardiovascular research program in both English and Spanish languages in 21 Illinois counties. The project is targeted toward women enrolled in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program and helps them reduce heart disease by leading healthier lifestyles.
Women’s Health-Line: Increased access to services through Women’s Health-Line and other informational resources. In FY06, the state-funded toll-free Women’s Health-Line responded to more than 2,000 requests, referring women to services and providing more than 223,757 free educational materials to women and community providers. These materials are also available through the department’s website.