About the Lois B. Green Breast Health Center
Family Health Center of Worcester is proud to be the home of The Lois B. Green Breast Health Center to address significant disparities in mammography rates and cancer mortality among low-income women in Central Massachusetts by increasing access to breast health education and cancer screening services.
The Lois B. Green Breast Health Center offers state-of-the-art digital mammography and breast health education to all women, including more than 5,000 low income women who are overdue for or have never had a mammogram. Call today to schedule an appointment at 508-860-7800.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that 39,840 women died of breast cancer in 2010 (NCI SEER 2010). Sadly, this figure included our dear friend Lois B. Green, along with many other wives, mothers, sisters, aunts, and friends who lost their battles with breast cancer last year. Before Lois passed away, she was working behind the scenes to help Family Health Center improve the quality of radiology services for low-income women in the community. Lois was passionate that all women, regardless of socioeconomic status or language barriers, should have access to timely, quality, breast health screenings and education to promote the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Lois was so pleased to know that this project was moving forward with early support from the Hoche Scofield Foundation, and she was proud that the new digital mammography service would bear her name.
Regular mammography screening for women over 40 is an evidence-based practice to reduce mortality from breast cancer. Massachusetts has one of the best mammography screening rates in the U.S., with 83.9% of all women age 40 and over receiving annual preventive mammograms (MDPH Cancer Registry). However, if the data is sorted by income and race/ethnicity, low income women and women from ethnic minority communities in MA have some of the lowest mammography screening rates in the country. Only 20% of low-income MA women over age 45 obtained regular mammograms. (HRSA UDS Comparative Report, 2007).
Massachusetts has the fourth highest incidence rate of breast cancer in the U.S. (American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, 2007-08). Cancer mortality is highest among African American women, African-born women, and low-income White women. The Lois B. Green Breast Health Center will be dedicated to eliminating this health disparity.
The Lois B. Green Breast Health Center was made possible through generous funding from General Electric Healthcare, The Hoche-Scofield Foundation, Congressman James P. McGovern and the Health Resources and Service Administration, the Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and individual and corporate supporters of the 2011 Art in the City.
FHCW's Breast Health Navigation and Outreach program is supported by generous grant funding from the Massachussetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For more information about the Komen MA Affiliate, click here.
Breast facts overview & guide to understanding breast cancer
Warning signs of breast cancer
For more information on breast health, visit the links below:
Breast Cancer Risk Factors and Prevention
How to perform a self breast exam
How to prepare for a mammogram
Family Health Center of Worcester (FHCW) is a private, nonprofit, Joint Commission Accredited, federally qualified health center serving 33,000 patients from throughout the City of Worcester and 35 surrounding towns. FHCW’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of traditionally underserved and culturally diverse populations in the Greater Worcester area by providing accessible, high-quality, comprehensive primary care, dental care and social services to individuals and families, regardless of their ability to pay.