Penn Medicine Encourages Women to Love Themselves with a Free Mammogram this Valentine’s DayPenn Medicine, American Cancer Society and Univision Partner to Provide Free Life-Saving Screenings

Newswise — PHILADELPHIA – For the second year, Penn Medicine is partnering with The American Cancer Society and WUVP Univision 65 to offer free mammograms to uninsured women in our community. The annual “Amate a ti Misma,” or “Love Yourself,” event encourages women who do not have health insurance, or who have expensive co-pays, to call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to sign up for a free mammogram at Penn Medicine. Appointments are available on Monday, February 15 and Tuesday, February16, 2016, and must be made in advance.

“Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in American women, with more than 246,000 new cases being diagnosed in the U.S. and 19,800 cases in Hispanic women this year,” said Carmen Guerra, MD, MSCE, FACP, an associate professor of Medicine in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, associate chief of staff at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center, and president of the East Central Division, American Cancer Society, Inc. “Mammograms allow for early detection of cancers and ultimately lead to better treatment outcomes, saving thousands of lives every year.”

Current breast cancer screening guidelines from medical experts and organizations recommend that women over 40 years of age discuss their need for mammography screening with their health care provider.

In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Healthy Woman Program offers free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services year-round for eligible women. Visit the PA Department of Health for more information.

Since the campaign launched in New York in 2006, more than 10,000 women have received free mammograms. For information on breast cancer screening guidelines, or if you have been diagnosed and need assistance, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Free mammograms will be offered:

Date and Time: Monday, February 15, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Location: Tuttleman Center 3rd Floor – Outpatient Radiology 1840 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Directions: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/radiology/patient/locations/centercity/tuttleman.html

Date and Time: Tuesday, February 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Location: Perelman Center Ground Floor – Radiology Check-In 3400 Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104 Directions: http://uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/cpup/perelman/Directions.html

*Spanish-English translators will be available at each site.

Funding for the event, including screenings and diagnostic work-ups, and patient navigation services, is provided by grants from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Healthy Women Program.

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania(founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $5.3 billion enterprise.The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 17 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $409 million awarded in the 2014 fiscal year.The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2014, Penn Medicine provided $771 million to benefit our community.