ICAP: Making Breast Health A Priority In Challenging Economy

By: Patrick Alyea

“All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need to take advice and to receive help from other people.”
-Nobel Prize winner, Alexis Carrel (physician and professor), 1912

Breast cancer, like a predator attacking its unsuspecting victim, can strike before the prey even knows what is happening.

Unfortunately for women, breast cancer does not care what else is going on in life, whether struggles or joys. What are women to do when given this life-altering news? Obviously treatment is needed, but the best chance for survival is to detect the problem early. Women need to be the ones on the attack, getting exams and tests done regularly to catch issues from the beginning. In today’s economic climate, however, that is easier said than done.

With an unemployment rate typically hovering around 12%, Henry County – located in central Indiana – is home to a large number of uninsured and underinsured women. The decline of the automotive industry only added to the number of jobless in this small community. With little money and little or no insurance, the people of Henry County are forced to spend sparingly, making sure they have enough for the essentials. Regular checkups with a doctor do not always fall into this category.

Seeing a major problem, the Interlocal Community Action Program (ICAP) developed the ICAP Women’s Clinic toward the end of 2008. Within the clinic, the Mammogram Assistance Program began through a grant from the Central Indiana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The grant helps provide diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and helps to cover the cost of some biopsies.

According to Nancy Lewis, the nurse liaison for the Clinic, no woman is ever turned away.

“We work with the Henry County Hospital to provide these services to the women,” Lewis says. “If a woman is interested, she calls me to go over a short questionnaire and then an appointment is set up.”

Amy Wright, another key member of the clinic, is excited about the help they have been able to provide over the last 2 ½ years.

“In 2009, we had a goal of serving 85 women, and we were able to help 174,” Wright says. “We aimed high in 2010, with a goal of 200 women. We ended up providing services for 331.”

Clearly, more and more women are in need of assistance. The services provided through the program with Komen funds have helped save lives, as some cases of cancer have been spotted through the testing.

Wright says that in 2010, eight women who used the program’s services discovered they had breast cancer. The Henry County Hospital had 15 new cases of breast cancer total for the year, indicating that this program helped detect over half of the county’s women diagnosed with breast cancer.

With the number of women in need increasing, extra funds are required. To help support the growing need for financial assistance with breast examinations, they are creating new fundraisers. This month will mark the second annual Pink Ribbon Rush 5k Run/Walk, which was founded by a woman whose grandmother died of breast cancer before she could ever meet her.

Those in charge of the run have been generous enough to donate all of the proceeds to the ICAP Mammogram Assistance Program. The 2011 run will be at Baker Park in New Castle, Indiana on June 18th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Although there is always a need for more help, there are services and funds available for women in need. Whether it is a grant from the Komen Foundation or t-shirt sales by local firemen to raise money—which happened in New Castle last October—women need to look for the help they require as opposed to thinking they can ignore or put off breast examinations. It is important not to be blinded by pride, fear or stubbornness in these situations. As Nobel Prize winner Alexis Carrel once said, “All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need to take advice and to receive help from other people.” There are always people willing to help, it is just a matter of finding them.