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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Margaret E. Thompson, MD¹, Barbara Hager, MPH², Lucy Im, MPH², Charlotte Williams, MPH³, Kent Westbrook, MD¹, Paul Greene, PhD³, Suzanne Klimberg¹, and Ronda Henry-Tillman, MD⁴. (1) Department of Surgery / Division of Breast Surgical Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., slot 725, Little Rock, AR 72205, 501-686-6504, mthompson@uams.edu, (2) arkansa Department of Health and Human Services, PO Box 1437, Slot H11, Little Rock, AR 72203-1437, (3) College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205, (4) Arkansas Cancer Research Center Cancer Control Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham Street, # 725, Little Rock, AR 72205

Introduction The Arkansas Breast Cancer Act established and appropriated funding for the BreastCare Program administered through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) which has successfully provided breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to uninsured and underinsured Arkansas women since 1997. State funds invested in this program provide treatment and federal funds provide screening. This abstract describes the success of this statewide program on breast cancer screening.

Methods Data were collected from the Arkansas DHHS BreastCare Program, which has 1,802 providers in 156 cities across the state. BreastCare provides services to women who are °Ý40 years old, below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, uninsured or underinsured, and Arkansas residents.

Results From 1999 to 2001, 15,779 women received clinical breast exams (CBE) and 21,779 received mammograms. During that time, CBE increased by 35%, mammograms increased by 8%, and the early stage cancers diagnosed increased from 73% to 89%.

Conclusion Early detection is still the most powerful tool women have in the fight against breast cancer. Changes in the stage of diagnosis may reflect a more efficient use of state funds because treatment costs are less when breast cancer is detected in earlier stages. Public health policy can be a significant tool to provide resources and help coordinate services that ultimately impact the health of communities statewide. Through continued collaborations between policymakers and healthcare professionals, future disease challenges can be addressed and a stronger policy agenda around cancer prevention and control will be developed.

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