A breast cancer diagnosis is one of the more frightening experiences anyone can have to go through. The breast cancer incidence rate has risen slowly over the last few years, but the rate of death caused by breast cancer gradually decreased, a trend that has continued since the late 80s. Despite improvements in treatment and overall awareness of the risk, over 40 thousand women will die from breast cancer this year, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

The early detection of breast cancer, before it has spread outside the breast, is the most important indicator of an individual’s chance of survival. The probability of survival within 5 years of a diagnosis is 99.6 percent provided that the cancer is found while it is still localized to the breast. That probability drops to 86.6 percent if the cancer has spread to nearby regions and 32.9 percent chance of survival if it has spread to distant parts of the body, based on data from 2015 to 2021 according to the Center for Disease Control.

Despite the fact that there are few medical care facilities in Gasconade County, there are several resources in the greater area available for breast cancer screening and treatment for those who have insurance as well as for those who may be uninsured or would have difficulty traveling to Hermann or neighboring counties.

Missouri’s ’Show Me Healthy Women Program,’ provides free breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services to uninsured and low-income residents from providers throughout the state. To qualify, an individual would need to meet the following requirements:

• Age 21-64, or older if not receiving Medicare Part B

• Income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty line

• Uninsured, or unable to pay their insurance/deductible payment

Qualifying women who are 40 or older are automatically eligible for annual screening services. Women from 21-39 years old are eligible for screening with one high-risk factor, including mutations of the BRCA gene in themselves or an immediate family member (parent, sibling or child). The program does require a doctor’s referral which shows one of the risk factors are met, according to Regional Program Coordinator for Central Northeast Ashleigh Alexander.

The program only covers screening services, but should that lead to a cancer diagnosis, individuals are referred to the state’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment (BCCT) program. Participating providers can be searched by county on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website. Some counties do not have any providers, but anyone eligible can travel to receive services from a provider outside of the county they reside in, said Alexander.

In rural areas, the need to travel for care is one of the main barriers to the accessibility of healthcare services. But one non-profit group has stepped in to help close that gap. In Gasconade and seven other nearby counties, Missouri Ozarks Community Action (MOCA) is providing transportation assistance with the help of volunteer drivers.

Individuals in any of the eight counties they serve, who meet one the following requirements, are eligible for transportation to any essential services, including breast cancer screenings and treatment:

• At or below an income of $31,300, which is set at 200 percent of the federal poverty line

• 62 years of age or older

• Is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance

The transportation service provided is door-to-door, so they will pick a client up at their home and wait for the appointment to end before dropping them back off at home, said Tony Shaw, project coordinator for MOCA.

MOCA asks that potential clients call at least 48 hours before they need transportation. They offer transport to any destination within 200 miles of their base of operations in Richland. That area includes both Kansas City and St. Louis, and even extends outside of Missouri in some areas. They are open M-F from 8-3:30 p.m. except for the noon to 1 p.m. lunch hour. The other seven counties MOCA serves are Camden, Crawford, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps and Pulaski.

There are also mobile mammography vehicles operated by MU Health as well as Mercy. MU Health’s mobile unit is available every weekday in October and travels to several different locations, according to their calendar. For the hours and locations of the Mercy vehicles, there are phone numbers to contact on the Mercy website.

The ACS suggests that all women begin annual breast cancer screenings at the age of 40. Those who have certain risk factors should begin screening at 30 years old. The risk factors involved can range from family history to genetic mutations and even height. So, it is important that individuals discuss their personal situation with their healthcare provider.

Women under 40 years old should communicate with a primary care doctor about specific risk factors to determine when it is suggested to begin screening, and so should men, especially if they meet certain risk factors such as a family history of breast cancer. Men account for less than 1 percent of cases in the United States, but an estimated 530 American men will die of breast cancer in 2026, according to the ACS.