Panhandle Breast Health

Panhandle Breast Health offers free mammograms for uninsured residents of the Texas Panhandle. Private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid cover screening mammograms. Start routines mammograms at age 40 or younger if you are at higher risk for breast cancer.

You should get your results within 10 days. If you don’t, call to ask about them. Your mammogram report will tell you if you have dense breast tissue. Talk with your doctor about what that may mean for you. If doctors find an area of concern, you may need new x-rays or other tests. That doesn’t mean you have cancer. The doctor may have seen something that just looks different or the images weren’t clear. -- American Cancer Society

The entire process takes about 20 minutes. The breast is compressed between two plastic plates for a few seconds while an x-ray is taken. The plates are moved to a new position, and the breast is compressed again to take another view. The same process is done on the other breast. Flattening the breast can be uncomfortable, but it is needed to provide the clearest view. -- American Cancer Society

Wear a 2-piece outfit because you will need to remove your top and bra. Do not use deodorant, antiperspirant, powder, lotion, or ointment under your arms or on your chest on the day of your mammogram. These products can appear as white spots on the x-ray. -- American Cancer Society

It’s best to schedule your mammogram about a week after your menstrual period. Your breasts won’t be as tender or swollen, which means less discomfort during the mammogram. -- American Cancer Society

PBH partners with BSA Harrington Breast Center, Pampa Regional Medical Hospital and the Moore County Hospital District for screening services. When you find a center you like, stick with it. Having all your mammograms at the same place will make it easier for doctors to compare images from one year to the next. If you’ve had mammograms done at other centers, have those images sent to
your new center.

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast that’s used to find breast changes. Mammograms are done with a machine that only looks at breast tissue. The machine takes x-rays at lower doses of radiation than the x-rays done to look at other parts of the body. -- American Cancer Society

A monthly gift can change a life.

When you become a monthly donor to Panhandle Breast Health, you're providing more than a donation, you’re helping uninsured people across the Texas Panhandle receive lifesaving breast cancer screenings they might otherwise go without. Donate today at www.panhandlebreasthealth.org.

Panhandle Breast Health is here to help women of all ages. If you're under 40, you may qualify for assistance with a physician's referral. Contact us to learn more about eligibility and our healthcare partners.