Free mammograms to eligible women

NEWTON — On Thursday, May 31, a mobile mammography van will be available at Project Self-Sufficiency to offer free mammograms to eligible women. To receive a free mammogram, women must be uninsured or underinsured and over the age of 40. Mammograms will be offered by appointment only, between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. Participants will also receive instructions for performing self-examinations, as well as free educational materials on breast health and breast cancer. In combination with mammograms, breast self-exams and clinical breast exams are recommended for all women after the age of 20. Combining these three methods gives women the best chance of detecting breast cancer at its earliest stages. Funding for the mobile mammography van is provided in part by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure ® North Jersey Affiliate. “Project Self-Sufficiency is proud to be able to offer free mammograms to women in need,” said Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “Early detection is the key to preventing breast cancer, and getting a mammogram can often mean the difference between life and death.” Sussex County has the highest incidence of incurable breast cancer in the state, primarily because the cancer is not being detected at its earliest, most curable, stage. In fact, while the mortality rate for breast cancer in the state of New Jersey dropped 8.9 percent from 1997 to 2005, mortality in Sussex County rose 9.5 percent during the same period. Early detection is essential in the fight against breast cancer; the survival rate for women who detected breast cancer in its earliest stages has reached 98 percent. A mammogram is 85 to 90 percent effective at detecting breast cancer. Mammograms may detect breast cancer up to two years before they can be felt through clinical or self-examinations. Recent studies have shown that mammography can reduce the chances of death from breast cancer by 30 percent. Project Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill St. in Newton. To register for a free mammogram, contact Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500.