20 Oct Making Mammograms a Priority during the Pandemic
Wednesday, October 20, 2021— Kheir Clinic was honored to co-host a Breast Cancer Awareness press conference with Cedars-Sinai Cancer Research Center for Health Equity, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, Berendo Street Baptist Church, and California’s Every Woman Counts Cancer Detection Program on October 20th at Kheir Mirae ADHC. The annual press event had special significance this year, as mammography rates declined during the pandemic after years of steady progress. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and the second leading cause of cancer death for women. Despite these risks, the number of screening tests received by women through the CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program declined by 87% for breast cancer in April 2020 as compared with the previous 5-year averages for that month. Delays in screening can delay diagnosis and life-saving cancer treatment.
To address these issues and prevent further cancer disparities affecting immigrant women, it’s important for health care providers like Kheir Clinic and Cedars-Sinai to collaborate with community partners, faith-based organizations, government agencies, elected representatives, and other stakeholders to increase awareness and provide access to services.
The press event was covered in numerous Korean-language media outlets, including Korea Times, SBS (at 3:40), KBS, Koreatown Daily, Korea Herald, Chosun Daily, Radio Seoul, and US Metro News.
On October 29th, Kheir Clinic and Cedars-Sinai joined forces with Pro-Life Imaging to co-host a free breast cancer screening event for uninsured women at Kheir’s newly expanded Wilshire Clinic. At the event, 40 Korean American women received digital mammograms and clinical breast exams at no cost through California’s Every Woman Counts program. Kheir Clinic will continue our efforts to increase mammography rates through additional community screening events and ongoing collaboration with local imaging offices year-round.
Thank you to our partners and supporters for making this essential service available in our communities. For more information about Kheir’s breast cancer prevention services for low-income and uninsured patients, email us at info@lakheir.org.