KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR Gary R. Mitchell, Secretary

October 3, 1997

Contact: Don Brown

(785) 296-1529

FREE to Know and First Lady Linda Graves Promote the Early Detection of Breast Cancer During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Governor and First Lady Linda Graves join the fight against breast cancer through Kansas Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities. Kicking off the month-long awareness activities, First Lady Linda Graves as the Honorary Chairperson of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is inviting Kansas women to join her in promoting good health by scheduling their annual mammogram.

During the month of October the First Lady will make several personal appearances to promote early detection of breast cancer through routine screening. October 7 Mrs. Graves will visit Hays Medical Center, in Hays; United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries, in Garden City; and Via Christi Hospital, in Wichita in an effort to raise awareness about breast cancer, the importance of annual mammography, and the availability of low-cost or free mammograms provided by clinics across the state and the FREE to Know Program. On October 10, she will visit Kansas City, Kansas for a mobile mammography day provided by KU Cancer Center and the Douglas Community Health Center.

The FREE to Know Program, administered by the Bureau for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, provides free mammograms for women in Kansas who qualify. The program is available through funding from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and statewide partners.

This year, more than 1600 women in Kansas will learn for the first time they have breast cancer, and more than 400 women will lose their lives. Early detection is a woman's best protection. "Early detection, followed by up-to-date treatment, provides a woman with a better than 90 percent chance for survival from breast cancer," said Dr. Steven Potsic, state director of health. "Mammography screening should begin at the age of 40 and continue routinely -- once is not enough. Women must make mammography screening a part of their regular health care routine."

Additional activities planned by local agencies, coalitions, churches, and survivors will promote breast cancer awareness through city and county proclamations, health fairs, survivor presentations, fund raising events, and press conferences.

For more information about certified mammography facilities in your area that offer reduced fee or free screening, call FREE to Know at (785) 296-1207 or one of the following toll-free numbers.

1-800-4-CANCER Cancer Information Service

1-800-ACS-2345 American Cancer Society