It all started with the desire to make a difference and a donation from the Kingwood Women’s Club in 2001. Now in its 15th year, the Northeast Hospital Foundation’s Project Mammogram has provided services for thousands in the Lake Houston Area.
Project Mammogram is a Foundation program housed at the Memorial Hermann Cancer Center-Northeast that offers free mammograms and appropriate follow up diagnostics like diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies to qualifying women in the Lake Houston area.
“Since Project Mammogram started, it has served more than 7,800 women and men and has detected more than 100 cancers,” said Toni Schau, RN, Project Mammogram Director at the Center. “We want to continue this program for decades to come.”
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1989 thanks to earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment, the ACS said.
“Proper screening for breast cancer is essential considering how prevalent breast cancer is,” Schau said. “But not every woman can financially afford the screenings. Project Mammogram is here for those women.”
Project Mammogram is supported by community donations, volunteer support and annual grants from Susan G. Komen Houston. The program has also received yearly donation support from the Kingwood Women’s Club and from Randall Reed Ford in Humble. Those who qualify for Project Mammogram must not exceed a certain income level or have health insurance and must reside in Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital’s primary service area.
“Every donation to Project Mammogram makes a difference,” Schau said. “Many donations have helped save lives.”
For more information about qualifying for a free mammogram, call (281) 540-6443. To donate to the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, call (281) 540-7817.
The Center also hosts a breast cancer support group the first Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 18951 N. Memorial Dr., Humble, TX 77338. For more information or to register, call 281-540-7905.