At Hayworth Cancer Center we are committed to saving lives through the early detection of cancers.
The goal of screening exams for early breast and cervical cancer detection is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms.
Breast cancers that are found because they are causing symptoms tend to be larger and are more likely to have already spread beyond the breast. In contrast, breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and still confined to the breast. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are some of the most important factors in predicting the outlook of a woman with this disease.
A well-proven way to prevent cervical cancer is to have screenings to find pre-cancers before they can turn into invasive cancer. The Pap test (sometimes called the Pap smear) and the HPV (human papilloma virus) test are used for this. If a pre-cancer is found, it can be treated, stopping cervical cancer before it really starts. It is very important that women continue to have Pap tests, even if they have had the HPV vaccine. Most invasive cervical cancers are found in women who have not had regular Pap tests.
Cost Should Not Be a Barrier to Screening
Hayworth Cancer Center is the beneficiary of grants from the High Point Medical Center Employee Giving Campaign and The North Carolina Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP). These funds are used to provide free breast and cervical cancer screening and follow-up services to eligible women served by High Point Medical Center. Women are eligible for this program if they meet all of the following criteria:
- Are aged 40 - 64 for breast services and 18 - 64 for cervical
- Have a household income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level
- Are uninsured or underinsured
- Are without Medicare Part B or Medicaid
Our Screening Clinic
Our family nurse practitioner, Becky Parrish, RN, FNP, PhD, sees women every Wednesday at our BCCCP clinic, located in the Women’s Imaging Suite at High Point Medical Center. A typical visit to the clinic includes:
- Thorough assessment of your personal and family history and risk factors for cancer
- Clinical breast exam
- Pap test
- Education on breast self exam
- Screening mammogram
To make an appointment, call 336-878-6037 and request to be scheduled for the BCCCP clinic.
Follow Up
In cases where additional diagnostic studies are needed to determine whether cancer is present, our program covers the costs of follow-up diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound, and colposcopy if needed. If cancer is diagnosed, our oncology social worker provides assistance in obtaining a special Medicaid that covers the costs of treatment for cancers diagnosed in the BCCCP program.
If your mammogram is abnormal, you can rest assured that members of our team will help you navigate the process of diagnosis and treatment. Our BCCCP coordinator will make sure you get all the diagnostic procedures you need. She will introduce you to our breast health navigator who will assist you in making appointments for any needed biopsies or surgical interventions. If it is determined that you do have cancer, our breast cancer patient navigator will be available to assist you for the next year. It is our goal to make sure you always have easy access to someone with advanced knowledge and experience in breast cancer care.