Women gain access to health services

Vashon Natural Medicine is now part of the Washington State Breast and Cervical Health Program, which allows Washington women better access to health care.

Through the program, women ages 40 to 64 whose incomes are at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty line ($26,000 for a single woman) and are uninsured or underinsured may be eligible. The program includes a free breast examination, mammogram, pelvic exam and Pap test.

Early detection is the best way to combat breast and cervical cancer; screening, estimates show, could prevent 15 to 30 percent of deaths from breast cancer among women over age 40 and virtually all deaths from cervical cancer, Dr. Kelly Wright of Vashon Natural Medicine said in a press release. Low-income women are also less likely to receive cancer screening than others and more likely to be diagnosed with a more advanced disease.

The program is available to qualified women who are current or new patients at Vashon Natural Medicine. For more information, call Vashon Natural Medicine at 463-4778.