Uninsured women in Union County can schedule a free mammogram on Thursday, Oct. 8, when the Project PINK mobile screening bus parks outside WBTV's Charlotte studios.
The event marks the 10th year that the bus has stopped at WBTV to provide no-cost breast cancer screenings, WBTV reported. Appointments are required.
Project PINK is a partnership between Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute and Charlotte Radiology. The program is available to women aged 40 and older who live in Mecklenburg or Union counties and lack insurance that covers an annual mammogram. Women enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid do not qualify, nor do women who have had a mammogram within the past year.
A separate Project PINK screening held Sept. 17 at Union County Human Services in Monroe listed additional requirements: participants needed a primary care doctor and could not be pregnant or breastfeeding. Whether those same conditions apply to the Oct. 8 event has not been confirmed.
The mobile unit uses advanced 3D mammography, and appointments take less than 30 minutes from check-in to completion, according to Charlotte Radiology. Spanish translation is available for Spanish-speaking patients.
If a screening finds signs of cancer, the program covers follow-up exams and biopsies at no cost. The Atrium Health Foundation said patients with a positive finding are guided through the full course of treatment.
Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute urged anyone with a new breast lump or active breast concern to seek medical evaluation right away rather than wait for a screening event.
The program is funded through donations and sponsorships. A $250 contribution covers one mammogram.
To schedule an appointment for the Oct. 8 screening, call or text 980-214-5238 or email [email protected]. For general Project PINK questions, contact Sarah Head at [email protected].
Upcoming community events
- Thursday, Oct. 8 — Project PINK free mammogram screenings at WBTV, Charlotte. By appointment: 980-214-5238 or [email protected].
