The National Breast Cancer Foundation
A wonderful organization that spreads hope and medical care to the poor and homeless is the National Breast Cancer Foundation. A 25-year cancer survivor who has made it her life to help those who cannot afford breast cancer health care founded the foundation. Janelle Hail is the founder and president of this organization. She travels the country promoting health care for those who are homeless or who have no insurance to cover diagnosis and treatment.
One particular city was blessed with funds to continue working with the poor and homeless. Los Angeles has cut medical services and other areas in an attempt to save money. Those affected most are the street people who need medical care and have nowhere to go. One oasis of home is the Los Angeles Mission. Found in the heart of the city in the area known as “Skid Row” it provides health care and drug treatment for those who live in this drug-infested part of the city. Funding for this mission had to be cut because of financial woes in Los Angeles. Janelle Hail and the National Breast Cancer Foundation have stepped up with funding to keep the mission open and to add more features. This will include breast cancer screening and treatment for those who are diagnosed with breast cancer. They provide free screening, mammograms, and breast health care for the many homeless who could not afford healthcare.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation also helps fund the M.D. Anderson Center in Houston Texas. Paired with the University of Texas the M.D Anderson center is located in an underprivileged neighborhood. One of the biggest advantages the Center has is its Mammography Van. It offers high quality mammograms to those who cannot afford to have one at a conventional hospital. It has the same quality equipment and welcomes any women who seek their service. The Good Neighbor Healthcare Center is another one of the community locations that offers free healthcare to the surrounding area.
In New York City there are thousands who walk the street unable to afford breast cancer screening or treatment. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has united with the American-Italian Cancer Foundation to support the Free Mobile Mammography Program. It travels the streets of New York City providing free mammograms for those who are uninsured or have no access to breast cancer screening. They also give breast cancer education in a culturally sensitive way to the diverse group of New York women. It is important the different ethnic groups are given information in the way they are able to understand it. So far, the Free Mobile Mammography Program has given over 28,000 mammograms to those women who could not receive treatment in any other way.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation also reaches out to the world. The Hospital San Pablo del Este was the welcome recipient of a generous gift to design a program to provide free mammograms to women who could not afford any breast care.
Janelle Hail and the National Breast Cancer Foundation are doing their part to promote breast cancer screening and education in the United States and throughout the world.
