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Jessamine health department gearing up for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

September 14, 2011|By Mike Moore | mmoore@jessaminejournal.com

Photo submitted

With October just a few weeks away, the Jessamine County Health Department has many events scheduled for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said JCHD health educator Andrea D. Brown.

The health department offers screenings throughout the year, and this year, JCHD received a $5,000 grant from Central Baptist Hospital that funded its “Start Here” campaign.

“That means start at the health department,” Brown said. “This is for people who do not have medical insurance or are underinsured.”

Brown said under the “Start Here” program, patients can get their screenings and get their mammograms done at the health department, and JCHD will help pay for it.

“If another facility found (cancer) and referred them to the health department and they didn’t have insurance, the health department could not assist in paying for it,” she said.

Cost of care at the JCHD is based on a sliding scale, Brown said.

“That is determined by how many people live in a household and total family income,” she said.
JCHD also received nearly $11,000 through the Breast Cancer Trust Fund for a program called “Prevention Pays.”

“If you’ve noticed the pink license plates on people’s cars; it’s funding that comes from the purchase of those plates,” Brown said.

Women 40 years or older can qualify for the program if they are seeking a first mammogram or a first mammogram in more than two years and they have no health insurance.

Brown said the “Prevention Pays” program is an incentive program.

“She came come in and bring a coupon and complete the whole process, then she’ll get a $10 gift card,” she said. “If she refers another woman who meets the qualifications, she’ll get another $10 gift card and the other woman will get a $10 gift card.

Another way the heath department is raising awareness is through its 6th annual K9 2K Race for a Cure.
“You can either race with your dog or without your dog. It’s a 1.2-mile fun run/walk and it’s designed to raise awareness about breast cancer and getting screenings,” Brown said.

This year’s event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at City-County Park. Cost is $10 in advance or $15 at the gate.

Brown said the event will be held rain or shine, and all proceeds will go toward the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center. This year’s goal, Brown said, is to raise $300.

Money from the JCHD T-shirt sales fundraiser will help send one Jessamine County child to the Indian Summer Camp.

“We design T-shirts, and we send them to the banks; fiscal court always buys our T-shirts, our local medical facilities; and the idea behind that event is casual Fridays so employees could wear jeans and their T-shirts on Fridays to help raise awareness of breast cancer.”

The cost of the T-shirts is $12 for long sleeve and $10 for short sleeve.

According to the health department, in 2008 (the latest data), there were 3,062 cases of breast cancer in Kentucky, 567 of which ended in death.

In Jessamine County during 2008, there were 33 cases, resulting in six deaths.

For more information about Breast Cancer Awareness Month or the many services the Jessamine County Health Department offers, contact Brown at AndreaD.Brown@
ky.gov or call 859-885-4149 ext. 1025.

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