OTTAWA –This Mother’s Day why not give yourself a gift and choose this special holiday to commit to take better care of yourself. LaSalle County Health Department, through our Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program grant, can pay for mammograms and pap smears for women who qualify. To qualify, women must be a resident of LaSalle or Grundy County, between the ages of 35 and 64, and have no insurance (regardless of income) or have insurance that has a high deductible.

Low income women and women with no insurance die from breast and cervical cancer more often than other women. These high mortality rates are attributed in part to the fact that these women generally do not receive regular mammograms and Pap Smears. As a result, cancers are diagnosed at later stages when it is more difficult to treat and the chances for survival are less.          

Through IBCCP, LaSalle County Health Department is working to increase breast and cervical cancer awareness and break that cycle of late stage treatment for uninsured and low-income women. IBCCP provides FREE mammograms and Pap Smears for those women who qualify and assistance with paying the deductible for those who are insured. Take advantage of this opportunity for early detection. You are important to your family.

For women who do not qualify for the IBCCP program or who have related charges not covered by the IBCCP grant, there are a limited amount of community donated funds to assist with those services. Call (815) 433-3366 for further information on how to receive a free mammogram and pap test.