CAYHILL-The St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), Positive Foundation and Elektraleyets Foundation has partnered once again in empowering women to take action for their health and raise Breast Cancer Awareness by giving away 100 free mammograms to uninsured women.
During the month of October uninsured women can make the best of this opportunity by first visiting any one of the participating general practitioners for a free breast examination on their specified dates. The first free breast examinations opportunity will be at the St. Maarten Medical Center Open House on Saturday, October 4th, 2014. The examinations will begin at 4:30pm until 7:00pm.
If the participating physician determines that the patient requires a mammogram and is not insured for it, the patient will receive a voucher to get a free mammogram at the SMMC. The patient should first make an appointment at the radiology department and must bring the voucher and reference letter on the day of the appointment.
Many women are afraid of doing a mammogram. In a presentation ‘Surgery for Breast Cancer’ earlier this year, SMMC General Surgeon Dr. Felix Holiday, pointed out that most breast cancer patients on St. Maarten have tumors that are larger than 5cm in diameter. “There is evidently a delay… in seeing this sooner,” he says.
Breast Cancer is best treatable when detected early and mammograms can help women have a better chance at breast cancer treatment options if done in the early stages. “We hope that the women public can take advantage of this opportunity for the best interest of their health,” SMMC Director Kees Klarenbeek.
The SMMC will sponsor 50% of the costs for the mammograms and the Positive Foundation and Elektraleyets Foundation will sponsor the remaining 50%. This initiative, started in 2011, will continue to help women ‘get checked’.
In Photo: Elektraleyets Foundation President Ms. Mecerdes ‘Elektra’ Wyatts, SMMC General Director Mr. Kees Klarenbeek, and Positive Foundation President Ms. Shelly Alphonso and Vice-President Ms. Dilys Alphonso