Getting more women to get clinical breast examinations and doing monthly self-breast checks are the main focus of Positive Foundation for this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, starting on October 1. Free scheduled screenings at Family Medical Practice and the St. Maarten Medical Centre (SMMC) and at various clinics start October 4.
Positive Foundation has put emphasis on women and breast health for many years. This spanned various campaigns which encompasses screening, education, fundraising, fitness and awareness events, says President Shelly Alphonso. “This year, we wanted to encourage more women to go to their family doctor or our partner general practitioners for the clinical examinations in October.”
Positive Foundation will provide participating clinics with educational material on breast cancer awareness for distribution during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for the coming year. The foundation has also partnered with SMMC and Elektralytes Foundation to provide 100 vouchers for free mammograms to uninsured women. Uninsured women are eligible for a voucher by first visiting a participating general practitioner for a free clinical breast examination and be issued with a referral for a mammogram.
The first clinical breast examinations will be conducted by Dr. Swanston- Meade at the Family Medical Practice in Cay Hill on Saturday October 4, from 9 am – 12 noon followed by Dr. Holiday, Dr. Wassenaar and Dr. Misset at SMMC on that same day, from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. The next opportunity for free clinical breast screening is Thursday, October 9, at Zamora Perez Medical Clinic in Orange Grove Plaza, Cole Bay, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Dr. Grace Spencer will offer free clinical screenings on Saturday, October 11, at her clinic on Oleander Road #139, Saunders, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
Free clinical screenings for women will be offered at Union Road Clinic on Union Road, Cole Bay, on Wednesday, October 15, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Simpson Bay Medical Clinic will offer free clinical screening on Friday, October 17, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Women can go to Dutch Quarter Clinic on A. Th. Illidge Road for free clinical screening on Saturday, October 18, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. The American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine students will demonstrate how to do breast self-examinations on Saturday, October 18, at the Dutch Quarter Clinic.
The final two opportunities for free clinical screenings are on Thursday, October 23, at Dr. Deketh on Cinnamon Road, Maho from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and at Bush Road Clinic on Saturday, October 25, from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
The free clinical breast screenings are only one part of the breast cancer awareness activities for October. The annual Pink Parade is scheduled for Friday, October 3. The SMMC Open House is on Saturday, October 4, Bikers for Boobs on Sunday, October 5, Pink Phit and Phabulous Walk on Sunday, October 12 and the gala movie night on Thursday, October 23.
For more information about Positive Foundation’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities and free clinical breast screening, visit Positive-Foundation on Facebook or e-mail po****************@ca********.net.