McLaren Flint Giving Free Mammograms to Women in Need

The program is in honor of breast cancer awareness month in October.

McLaren Flint is going to be providing 150 free 3D-mammograms to women in need throughout Genesee County. It's part of the partnership between the McLaren Flint Foundation, the Flint Firebirds, and the sponsors of the Firebirds' "Pink out the Rink for Mamms" night that is (usually) held in October.

To be qualified to receive a free screening, here are the requirements:

You must be uninsured, 40 years or older (physician order not required for screening mammogram), under 40 years of age with high-risk factors, and a resident of Genesee County with proof of address and a Social Security number. You also must have a family physician to receive your test results.

If you don't have a primary or family physician, you can get one by calling the McLaren Family Medicine Residency at 810-342-5656.

Linda Lawrence, MD, is a board-certified radiologist and the medical director of the McLaren Imaging Center. When talking to WNEM-TV5 about the newest mammogram technology, she said, "We can see breast tissue much more clearly and detect cancers that are much smaller and at an earlier stage. Earlier detection of breast cancer means greater survival rates for patients.”

If you meet the above criteria and would like to schedule your free mammogram, you can do so by calling the Flint Imaging Center at 810-342-4800.

This is so great, although I'll still hold out hope that, someday, healthcare will truly be available to everybody. For now, though, baby steps are better than nothing. Thank you, McLaren Flint!