Program offers free breast cancer screenings for SLO County women 

According to data from the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer. Of those women, 1 in 36 will die.

Early detection and treatment is a key factor in preventing those deaths, and in SLO County, underinsured and uninsured women have access to free breast cancer screening services thanks to a statewide program known as Every Woman Counts.

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• Photo Courtesy Of The National Cancer Insititute
• SCREENINGS California's Every Woman Counts program provides free breast cancer screening services, like mammograms, to underinsured and uninsured women across the state, including those in SLO County.

The program, which has been around for more than 20 years, provides breast and cervical cancer screening services including clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams, and Pap tests.

"People who qualify for the program can get them for free," said Magi Mejorado, a health education specialist for the SLO County Health Agency. "If they find out they have cancer, the program can help pay for some of the costs of treatment."

Individuals who may qualify for free breast cancer screenings include women who are 40 or older or are younger than 40 but have breast cancer symptoms, and have limited or no health insurance, or qualify as "low income" under the program's guidelines.

According to the California Department of Health Care Services, there are 20 providers that offer screening services through the program in SLO County. The providers are located in several areas, with some as far north as San Miguel and as far south as Nipomo.

Mejorado said getting services is as easy as calling your nearest provider, or calling the program's hotline at 1-800-511-2300. According to the program's website, Every Woman Counts coordinators may also be able to help women who do not meet the program's requirements find low cost screening services elsewhere. Δ

The locations offering Every Woman Counts screening services in SLO County are:

CHC, Doctors Office, Fair Oaks 1057 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande (805) 481 7220

CHC Arroyo Grande 260 Station Way, Arroyo Grande (805) 473-6201

CHC Atascadero 7512 Morro Road, Atascadero (805) 792-1400

CHC Cambria 2515 Main St., Cambria (805) 927-5292

CHC Nipomo 150 Tejas Place, Nipomo (805) 929-3211

CHC Oceano 1981 Cienaga St.,Oceano (805) 473-4712

CHC, Oceano Immediate Care 1941 Cienaga St., Oceano (805) 270-0025

CHC Paso 416 Spring St., Paso Robles (805) 238-7250

CHC San Miguel 1385 Mission St., San Miguel (805) 467-2344

CHC San Luis Obispo Womens Health 1551 Bishop St., San Luis Obispo (805) 549-0402

CHC Templeton 325 Posada Lane, Templeton (805) 542-6701

CHC Templeton Womens Health 292 Posada Lane, Templeton (805) 542-6701

County of San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach 286 S. 16th St., Grover Beach (805) 772-6380

County of San Luis Obispo 2180 Johnson Ave., San Luis Obispo (805) 781-4878

County of San Luis Obispo 2191 Johnson Ave., San Luis Obispo (805) 781-5500

County of SLO Public Health Department 760 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay (805) 772-6380

County of San Luis Obispo 723 Walnut Drive, Paso Robles (805) 237-3050

Planned Parenthood San Luis Obispo 743 Pismo St., San Luis Obispo (888) 898-3806

The Center For Health And Prevention 1152 Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande (805) 489-4026

The Center For Health And Prevention 705 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo (805) 544-2478

Staff Writer Chris McGuinness can be reached at [email protected].