The Tennessee Department of Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program has been awarded five one-year grants totaling $206,950 from Tennessee affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an international organization dedicated to ending breast cancer.

Grants have been awarded in Davidson County, Knoxville, Chattanooga, the Tri-Cities area and Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland region to provide breast cancer screening for uninsured women.

“It is so important that all women have these screening tests to detect cancer earlier when it can be most easily treated,” says Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, Commissioner of Health. “These grants will help provide life-saving services to women who might otherwise go without the tests.”

The grant awards are intended to address the screening and diagnostic needs of women ages 50 through 64 who are uninsured and below a certain income level, based on family size.

The state program is particularly interested in screening women who have never been screened for breast cancer or who have not been screened in two or more years, because they are at greater risk for cancer.

All of the Komen money will be used to pay for basic screening and diagnostic tests for women with suspicious findings.

There are Komen affiliates in 62 Tennessee counties. State and federal funds are available to cover services for women in the remaining 33 Tennessee counties.

About 14,000 women receive services through Tennessee’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program yearly. Only a small number need further tests or treatment.

To learn more about the state program visit at : health.state.tn.us