900 Women
A Campaign to Save Lives! 

Idaho has the lowest rate in the United States of women age 40 and over getting their annual mammogram, at just 45.5 percent.

We need to do better!

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Early detection, before cancer has spread, greatly increases the chances for survival and cure. Annual screening mammograms are necessary to detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages, and save lives.

The 900 Women Project is a collaborative effort between local health care organizations, the public health department, physicians, and Magic Valley communities and businesses to increase by 10 percent the number of women being screened annually for breast cancer. This would result in 900 additional women who have not been receiving regular breast cancer screening getting annual mammograms and clinical breast exams.

What to Do
If you are 40 years or older and have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months, please call 208-737-2615 (English) or 208-737-2630 (Spanish) for information on financial assistance through the 900 Women Project.

About the 900 Women Project
The 900 Women Project was born in response to a report that Idaho’s mammography rates in 2004 were the lowest in the nation—50th out of 50.

“Those numbers were frightening,” says Susan Morris, patient safety officer at St. Luke’s Magic Valley, and a breast cancer survivor. “We wanted to do something local to change that.”

Susan was one of a group of public and family health professionals, physicians, members of health care organizations, community leaders, and other interested citizens who got together and came up with a goal to improve mammography rates in the Magic Valley area by 10 percent, or 900 more women each year.

They started with a community education campaign to raise awareness among women about the importance of early detection in saving lives. One of their early priorities was applying for grants and raising funds to provide financial assistance for women aged 40-49 who couldn’t access the Idaho Health Check Program, which serves women over age 50.

“I believe in the importance of early detection,” says Susan, a 30-year employee of the hospital. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer through a mammogram. I had surgery and radiation, and have gone three years without any problems, all thanks to early screening.”

Community organizations joined in the 900 Women effort with fundraising events that also promoted education and awareness. Together they have helped 900 Women provide financial assistance for mammograms to 200 women each year.

The 900 Women concept was developed in 2005, and the program began serving women in 2006. That year, Idaho was again lowest in the nation. But mammography rates were rising, and in 2008 they were up by 1,500 women over the two previous years, based on visits to St. Luke’s Women’s Imaging. When the official data for 2008 comes out in 2009, organizers hope to see a nice blip in the Magic Valley.

“I totally believe that early detection saves lives – I’ve lived it,” Susan says. “This is something we can do to really make a difference.”

Project Goals

• Recruit 900 women, aged 40 and over, who have not had a screening mammogram in the past year.
• Follow up with last year’s women to encourage them to return for an exam this year. Track success in establishing life-long behaviors to get annual breast screening exams.
• Provide financial assistance through the 900 Women fund to women aged 40-49 who meet financial need criteria.
• Collaborate with South Central District Health to enroll women aged 50-64 with financial need into the Idaho Women’s Health Check program.
  
  
  How You Can Help
  If you would like to help women in the Magic Valley and surrounding area by giving to the
  900 Women Project, please contact:
  St. Luke’s Magic Valley Foundation
  208-737-2480
  KathyL@mvrmc.org

For more information on the 900 Women Project, including information on financial assistance, please call 208-737-2615 (English) or 208-737-2630 (Spanish).