Submitted by Harriet Dial
Cancer Information Specialist
Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
The first Annual "Walk for Women" was held at the Calhoun County Park on Thursday, October 2,
2003. The WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program and the Calhoun County Educational
Outreach Service joined efforts in promoting the walk, along with Lights On.
In an effort to
bring awareness about Breast Cancer and the program that helps women who cannot afford annual
breast and cervical screening, the walk also encouraged volunteers to reach out to another
woman to spread the word about the free screening program.
This theme also carried over to the Candlelight service held at the Courthouse Thursday
evening. Cancer Survivor, Jean Simers, encouraged women to be informed and have
annual screenings. County Commissioner Bob Weaver read the proclamation setting October as
Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
More activities are planned for seniors on Wednesday, October 8, 2003 at the Calhoun County
Committee on Aging including special prize drawings at a lunch featuring a recipe from the
National Cancer Institute Healthy Cookbook.
Plans are already underway for next year's walk which will be expanded and help raise funds for
the Diagnostic and Treatment Program. This program is available for women when the screening
program indicates a possibility of cancer and the need for additional services. This program
has provided over $60,000 of diagnostic treatment for women in Region 5, which includes
Calhoun County.
West Virginia's Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (BCCSP) is a medical program and offers a multitude of
medical screenings:
Free Pap
Free Clinical Breast Exams
Free Mammograms for over 50 (and under 50 for high risk patients)
Free transportation (reimbursed at .36 miles, even to screening)
Free Diagnostic treatments including biopsies, colpolcospies, needle biopsies, diagnostic
mammograms
Free Treatments including all surgeries (mastectomies, etc.) and re-constructive surgeries
Free case management by nurses
Trained mammocare providers
West Virginia's Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program
306 Mill Street, Grantsville, WV
354-9297
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