DHEC lowers screening age for the Best Chance Network

By Nicole Boone
WBTW News13 Anchor
Published: October 8, 2008

The Best Chance Network has lowered the initial age a woman can be screened for breast and cervical cancer, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.

Best Chance Network (BCN) is a program that screens uninsured, low-income women in South Carolina for breast and cervical cancer

“We sincerely hope that women from age 40 to 64 in all parts of South Carolina will take advantage of the BCN to get their annual breast and cervical cancer screenings and with October being breast cancer awareness month, there is no better time than now,“ said Lisa F. Waddell, M.D., deputy commissioner for DHEC Health Services. “Breast and cervical cancers are often detected too late. If found while still localized, the five year survival rates are 98 percent for breast cancer and 92 percent for cervical cancer.

DHEC received funding from state lawmakers making it possible for more women to receive these services.  BCN screened 9,500 South Carolina women last year.  This year, BCN hopes to screen 18,000.

BCN’s mission is to reduce deaths from breast and cervical cancer by funding comprehensive screening services for women who meet age, income and insurance eligibility criteria, thereby finding cancers at earlier and more curable stages. The BCN provides a variety of screening and diagnostic services to women ages 40 to 64 including clinical breast exams, mammograms, Pap smears and some follow-up tests. If a woman is screened through BCN and needs treatment for breast or cervical cancer, she might also be eligible to apply for Medicaid.

To find out if you or a loved one is eligible for BCN services or to find a provider in your community, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 and ask about the Best Chance Network or visit http://www.scdhec.gov/health/chcdp/cancer/bcn.htm.