Breast cancer control program for the socioeconomically disadvantaged. Screening mammography for the poor.

A 6-year experience of providing mammograms to the socioeconomically disadvantaged in Dade County, Florida, through Primary Health Care Centers has defined a breast cancer control program that minimizes the barriers to early breast cancer detection for these women. First, an education and recruitment phase that reaches into the community to solicit the target group: Recruitment is needed more than education. Second, a low-cost mammography service that also reaches into the community and makes it available, accessible, and acceptable. Third, a one-stop breast center that minimizes the barriers to diagnostic evaluation. Finally, a multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment planning program offers optimum treatment options to the patient with newly diagnosed breast cancer and an opportunity for bonding between her and the staff. A research overly has allowed data to be collected continuously and provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program. This program has saved lives by reducing the projected mortality rate and has saved money by reducing the cost of treatment through earlier diagnosis. All four components are essential to a breast cancer control program for the socioeconomically disadvantaged.