Brooklyn: Free Mammograms Available This Week For Women Without Health Insurance

FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN, NY — Women without health insurance can get a free mammogram screening this week at two Brooklyn health care centers. The screenings are also available to individuals with health insurance, who will be billed normally.

The screenings are sponsored by State Sen. Kevin Parker, who represents Flatbush, as well as Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center and the Brookdale Family Care Center. Here's the screening schedule:

• On Oct. 21, the screenings will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. The specific screening location is Suite 400K of the CHC Building, located at 1 Brookdale Plaza.
• On Oct. 22, the screenings will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Brookdale Family Care Center, located at 1095 Flatbush Ave.

Anyone is welcome to get a screening at either location. An appointment is not needed, and walk-ins are welcome, according to a staffer with Sen. Parker's office. However, if you'd like to RSVP, or if you have questions about the screenings, you can call Sen. Parker's office at 718-629-6401.

For women at normal risk of breast cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends that women aged 40-44 should get a screening if they want to, while recommending annual screenings for women 45-54, and screenings every other year after 55.

Those with a higher risk of breast cancer — such as those with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations — should be scanned annually, according to the Society. You can read more about these recommendations on the American Cancer Society's website.

Top image courtesy of Mark Goebel/Flickr