Pictured from left are Scott Griffin, director of the Southeast Cancer Center; Dr. Jarrod Adkison, radiation oncologist; Dr. Steve Stokes, radiation oncologist; Debra Stringer, coordinator for the Southeast Regional Health Screening Program; and Valerie Barnes, executive director of the SAMC Foundation. Dr. Stokes serves as is the Medical Director for the Southeast Regional Health Screening program.
$45,000 Grant Received for One-of-a-Kind Service
The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program has awarded a $45,000 one-year grant to Southeast Alabama Medical Center Foundation in support of the Southeast Regional Health Screening Program (SRHSP) to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer. It is the fifth year the program has received funding from the Avon Foundation for Women to support its work on this important health issue, and in recognition of the program’s excellence.
Southeast Regional Health Screening Program at SAMC educates Wiregrass-area women and refers them to low-cost or free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities through a state of the art 40 ft. mobile medical unit.
Since 2007, the SRHSP at SAMC has reached more than 5,000 women with information about the importance of early detection. In the past two years alone, the program has performed 2,972 mammograms and clinical breast exams, 70 of which had abnormal results.
According to the American Cancer Society, 288 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in Alabama this year and 54 lives will be lost. Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every three minutes and a death from breast cancer every 14 minutes. While advances have been made in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure, early detection still affords the best opportunity for successful treatment. Programs such as the Southeast Regional Health Screening Program help ensure that all women have access to early detection and intervention options if diagnosed.