By Belinda Johnson

For the FCT

Local volunteers with the American Cancer Society are asking that all breast cancer survivors in the area attend an important rally in Montgomery next week.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Rally will take place on Wednesday, March 5, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. on the steps of the Alabama State House, located at 11 South Union Street in Montgomery.

This event will bring volunteers from American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network, Komen NC Alabama, and Joy to Life together to advocate for an increase in state funding for the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

The Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP) provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings for women who meet eligibility guidelines.

Free services include a pelvic exam, pap smear, clinical breast exam, mammogram, and diagnostic services such as an ultrasound, colposcopy, or biopsy, if needed.

Women are eligible for this program if they are age 40 – 64, have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or are without insurance or who are underinsured.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, since the program began in 1996:

• 91,109 women have been screened

• 143,080 clinical breast exams have been performed

• 123,843 mammograms have been performed

• 78,487 Pap smears have been performed

• 1,757 cases of breast cancer have been detected

• 445 cases of cervical cancer have been detected

In the last grant year alone:

• 12,329 women were screened

• 10,255 clinical breast exams were given

• 9,944 mammograms were performed

• 4,437 Pap smears were performed

• 137 cases of breast cancer were detected

• 16 cases of cervical cancer were detected

This important rally will let the voices of cancer survivors and supporters be heard at the Capital in Montgomery to show the legislators that people care about this program, it is a needed program, and that they must ensure that adequate funding is available to save more lives.

The event is free to attend, but those who plan to go must register at http://action.acscan.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=29946.