CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —
Breast cancer causes around 40,000 deaths in women each year, but getting an annual mammogram can help save a life.
The CDC reports that when women are presented with social barriers such as food and housing insecurity, lack of transportation, or access to health insurance, they are less likely to receive mammograms.
That’s where First Friday steps in. The non-profit is on a mission to make mammograms more accessible and decrease the number of women who die from the disease every year by offering free mammogram screenings.
"It's very important to get your annual mammograms because early detection is key to successful treatment. With the mammograms now being 3D, breast cancer can be caught at stage zero," patient coordinator Tisha Zirbes said.
"There are so many resources available for them to find a doctor that's either low cost or free, and then once they get their order, they call us, we qualify them and then they can get a mammogram,” she added.
Zirbes says helping women receive a potentially lifesaving exam that they may otherwise not be able to afford means a great deal to the organization.
"It feels so good to know that we are able to help someone, and it feels good when someone that hasn't had insurance for years keeps coming back," she said.
Zirbes understands the importance of routine mammogram screenings because one that she got just over six years ago saved her life.
Though her family has a history of breast cancer, she never showed any signs that she might have it too, but her mammogram said otherwise.
"I, myself fought breast cancer and survived. We caught it at stage zero. I had no symptoms, so even if you don't have symptoms, you still need to get checked. It's very important," she said.
Coming up on May 4, First Friday will be hosting Mammos for Moms at Radiology Associates on Alameda. There, women can register and get a free mammogram that day or schedule it for a later date. For more information click here.