Update: National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, July 1991-July 1992.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. During 1992, breast cancer will be diagnosed in 180,000 women, and an estimated 46,000 women will die from the disease (1). In addition, invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in an estimated 13,500 women and will cause approximately 4400 deaths (1). Many of these deaths could be prevented through routine, high-quality mammography screening and use of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test (2,3). This report describes cancer screening in three women who received these services through CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and the implementation of this comprehensive screening program for low-income women through cooperative agreements with state health agencies during July 1991-July 1992.