Queens NYCHA residents recently got free mammograms thanks to efforts by a local lawmaker ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
On Thursday, Sept. 30, Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal teamed up with the Italian-American Cancer Foundation and Queens Community House to bring preventative breast cancer screenings to the Pomonok Houses Community Center.
Eligible patients signed up for appointments through Rosenthal’s office or walked into the mobile bus to receive their annual screening.
“Early detection saves lives,” Rosenthal said. “As we assessed the effects of the pandemic on preventative care, we wanted to ensure that women did not forgo their critical annual exams. I thank the American-Italian Cancer Foundation for providing this crucial service in a safe manner and Queens Community House for their partnership.”
This was the third year that the lawmaker hosted the cost-free mammogram service following the New York Breast Law that was enacted in 2017. Under the legislation, deductibles and copayments for all annual screening mammograms were eliminated for women over 40 years old.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) a mammogram is an X-ray of the breast and is the best way for early breast cancer detection for many women. Regular mammograms, usually one per year, can lower a person’s risk of dying from breast cancer.
