All cut up Rag doll

They cut you up. They give you pills and IV's that are supposed to save your life, but make you feel like vomiting all the time. You are scared, frightened of the worst, feel like screaming all the time. They take away your hair and your breasts, two important symbols of your femininity. On top of all that, they send you huge bills that will take years to pay. And yet, all the while, you are supposed to be thankful that they are doing all this to save your life. And sometimes, eventually, it does. But not for everybody.

Prevention is key!

The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is a program which provides access to, as the name says, free or low-cost breast and cervical cancer screening services such as mammograms and Paps tests for low-income or uninsured women. They have been provided this service for 20 years.

According to their data: since its inception, the NBCCEDP has served more than 3.9 million women, providing more than 9.8 million breast and cervical cancer screening examinations. Funded programs have diagnosed more than 52,694 breast cancers, 2,856 invasive cervical cancers, and 136,837 premalignant cervical lesions.

To receive NBCCEDP screenings and other services, Federal guidelines require a woman to be underinsured or uninsured, and at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. They also must be between the ages of 40 and 64 for breast cancer screening, and 18 and 64 for cervical cancer screening services.

To find out more about their programs and services, including locating a screening provider, visit http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/.