Recently we told you about an important program for women in the St. Louis area that's funded thanks to the Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure. Our Show Me Healthy Women grant helps the Saint Louis University Cancer Center screen over 300 women in the area with mammography that they would not be able to otherwise afford.
With the Komen Race this Saturday in downtown St. Louis, we wanted to share with you an example of how dollars raised at the event stay here to help in the fight against breast cancer. For more about how the program helps people, our Sara Hall profiled someone who found the program essential in helping an important community.
When social worker Valerie Taylor knew the women in her life were not getting mammograms, she couldn't sit idly by and watch them put themselves at risk of ignoring breast cancer.
Instead, she used one of her days off last summer to lead a group of women from Jackson Park, the apartment complex where she works, in an outing to receive breast exams through the Show Me Healthy Women program at Saint Louis University Cancer Center.
Taylor first learned about Show Me Healthy Women after they had come to her church to perform mammograms. When they asked if anyone knew of women who may not get mammograms or that would benefit from the free services they provide, Taylor had this exact group of Jackson Park women in mind.
She knew of women in the building who either infrequently had mammograms, had them done years ago or had never had them before in their lifetimes.
Some, she said, knew about mammograms, but originally thought the cost factor was holding them back. She assured them that no matter what their financial situation may be, the Show Me Healthy Women program would provide the mammograms free of charge to them, and with the testing, could even prevent future monetary problems for them down the line.
"A lot of them would say, 'I don't have any money to do that,' but I would tell them 'With this program, you don't need that,'" she said. "I tell them the earlier they catch it, the better."
Others simply were afraid to have a mammogram done. Taylor knew these women could not let their fears hold them back from a healthy life. The women were more comfortable with the idea of getting mammograms if Taylor took them and even had one done herself — and if that is what it took, that is what she was willing to do.
"For me personally, the very fact that I went to show them that it's OK, that we need to do this really helped," she said. "I think the program is so needed, and especially for the underserved and underprivileged."
For many women, Taylor said, before the Show Me Healthy Women program, breast examination and education was something that was not even on their radar. With the program, though, it's their opportunity to stay informed about how to conduct breast self-exams and what to do if the warning signs of breast cancer do occur — both preventative and protective measures that could ultimately save their lives.
"It's educational, and [these women] would probably not seek or get that anywhere else," she said. "They wouldn't even know about it."
The conversation about women's health didn't end after their initial trip to get mammograms, though. After the initial screenings, Taylor and two other women had to go back for additional tests. For the others who had no signs of problems at the initial screening, Taylor said she still encourages them to follow-up appointments.
In her experience, Taylor said the program is so needed, especially for the older African American community with whom she is familiar, because they show more hesitancy toward precautionary breast cancer treatment.
"They are not as quick say, 'OK, I need to go get my mammogram or get health screenings,'" she said.
Taylor is currently working on organizing another outing to have mammograms with the women of Jackson Park and said she will still do whatever it takes to make sure these women — and all women — do whatever they can to fight off breast cancer.
"People need to understand that this is something that could save their lives," she said.
It's not too late to sign up for the Komen Race. You can register here. For info about the Show Me Healthy Women Program, contact Michele Carley at 314-268-7038.
