What if a breast or cervical screening exam is abnormal?
If a breast and/or cervical abnormality are found from the screening exam, the woman will be referred to contracted providers for follow-up. Many diagnostic services are payable through the BCCCP, including: Diagnostic Mammogram, Breast Ultrasound, Breast/Cervical Biopsy (Professional portion only), Colposcopy, Medical Consultation, Selected Anesthesia Services.

What if I have health insurance?
You might be able to participate if you do not have HMO insurance. If a woman has some health insurance coverage, a total reimbursement rate cannot exceed the BCCCP rate. Women should not be billed for the covered services they receive through the BCCCP.

Does the BCCCP pay for cancer treatment if a breast or cervical cancer is diagnosed through the program?
No. However, if a woman has been screened and/or diagnosed in the BCCCP, she may be eligible to receive Medicaid coverage for her breast or cervical cancer treatment.

Why do I need a mammogram if I don't have any symptoms?
Mammography may detect breast cancer up to two years before you or your doctor can feel a lump.

Why do I need a mammogram if there's no history of breast cancer in my family?
Eighty-percent of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

How often do I need a mammogram?
Once is not enough. A mammogram can detect breast cancer when it is in its earliest, most treatable stages, but only if done every year. The American Cancer Society recommends that once you turn 40 you should have a mammogram every year. Examine your breasts monthly, and make sure your doctor gives you a breast examination once a year.

Are Mammograms are painful?
A mammogram is simply an X-ray of your breast. Although the procedure may cause discomfort, it is very quick.

If a mammogram does find something, is it too late?
No. Over 90 percent of women with breast cancer survive if the cancer is found and treated early, before it has spread beyond the breast.

Will getting a mammogram expose me to unsafe levels of radiation?
The radiation exposure from mammography equipment is very low, similar to being in the sun for two hours. It is far more dangerous to allow breast cancer to go undetected and untreated than to be exposed to very low doses of radiation.

Can a mammogram detect all breast cancers?
A mammogram is the best method for detecting early breast cancer, but mammograms are not perfect. They must be combined with a yearly breast exam by a health professional.