Eye On The Community: Women without health insurance may soon receive a free mammogram

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Ask anyone who has suffered from breast cancer and she will always tell you if she finds something is wrong.

“In January 2017, I physically felt a lump in my chest,” Kiva Fisher-Green said.

She said she immediately went to the doctor, who also confirmed the presence of bumps. After that, things went quickly. The doctor sent her for a mammogram, and she had a biopsy done the same day. Then she waited.

“It was the longest five or six days,” she said.

When the results came back, Fisher-Green said she had stage 2 breast cancer.

“Fortunately, it didn’t spread to my lymph nodes or anything else,” she added.

She has successfully undergone radiation therapy and has since hoped to reach the five-year mark of getting rid of cancer every year. That is this year.

But initially she did not get pure health.

“They found something again this year,” Fischer Green said.

She knew the process. She had to take a few more pictures and wait for the results again. But this time everything was fine. In fact, Fisher-Green kept a voicemail with good news that told her the test was benign.

Today, Fischer Green is a proponent of early detection of breast cancer and awareness.

“I started using my social media platform to encourage women this year, after I had my last fright. Using social media again, I made people say, “I scheduled a mammogram because of you, I never did.” mammography, ”she said.

Fisher-Green is a member of the Pittsburgh branch of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which next month will bring its mobile mammogram to Heinz Field to offer free 3D mammograms to uninsured women.

“We need to support people who are a little afraid of this, and talk to them and say it’s in your best interest. It’s one way to make you feel more comfortable if at least you’ve passed the exam and you know the conditions are like that.” said Emma Lucas Darby, president of the Pittsburgh Sisterhood branch.

Eligible women must be 40 years of age, uninsured, without a mammogram in the last year and free of breast problems and complaints. Additional health studies will also be available, including diabetes, cholesterol, vision, bone density and blood pressure.

The event will take place May 17 and 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the FedEx Heinz Field Great Hall. The Pittsburgh Steelers is a support partner for the event.

To sign up for a free mammogram, call 888-233-6121 by May 3rd. Vaccines against COVID-19 will also be available if you pre-register at 833-653-0518.