Health care: January 2010 Archives

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center has reduced the cost of mammogram screening, it announced this week.

Breast imaging is available for a cash price of $100, a drop of $150, the hospital said in a statement.

For the $100 fee a patient can have one of three types of breast imaging: a screening mammogram, a diagnostic mammogram or ultra sound service.

For no additional charge a radiologist will interpret the results of the tests.

Patients must have a doctor's order to take part in this program, said Tami Barto, spokeswoman for the hospital's Robert and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center.

The results of the screening will be sent to the patient's physician.

The ongoing service is available to women without health insurance or those who have coverage but are unable to afford high co-payments.

"Last year between 25 and 30 percent of our patients did not have health insurance, whereas a couple years ago it was only 8 percent," said Jan Eggleton, supervisor of the hospital's Breast Health Center in the statement.

The hospital's Robert and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center registered a considerable decrease in the number of patients scheduling annual breast exams in 2009, the statement said.

Postponing or foregoing an annual breast exam because the patient lacks insurance is risky behavior, the statement said.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 a quarter million new female breast cancer cases were detected, the statement said.

In addition, 95 percent of new female breast cancer cases and 97 percent of deaths occur in women ages 40 and older.

"Screening and diagnostic mammography is the gold standard for finding breast cancers early when they are treatable," Eggleton said.

"That is why we have this program for people who have lost their health insurance. We want to make it affordable.

Because there is is no sure-fire way to prevent breast cancer, regular mammograms are crucial to detecting the disease, treating and saving lives, the statement said.

To schedule a mammogram, call 909-469-9395 and ask for the $100 cash price.

The service will be offered at The Robert and Beverly Lewis Family Cancer Care Center, 1910 Royalty Drive, Pomona; at Pomona Valley Health Center at Chino Hills, 2140 Grand Ave., Chino Hills; and Pomona Valley Health Center at Claremont, 1601 Monte Vista Ave., Claremont.

For more information, call the Breast Health Center at 909-469-9472.