Outreach for Breast Health Foundation (OBHF) is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to educating medically under-served women, including minorities, new immigrants, uninsured, poorly insured, and senior citizens about the benefits of the early detection of breast cancer, and other breast health information, and then linking them to annual screening mammography and clinical breast exams by providing access to free mobile mammography. We also fund patient navigation which provides those patients with abnormal findings with referrals to doctors, breast clinics, hospitals, and other diagnostic centers and support programs.
The Outreach For Breast Health Foundation (OBHF) is dedicated to reducing the mortality, suffering, and social costs associated with Breast Cancer. OBFH provides funding for free mammograms, clinical breast exams, and breast health education on board of the vans operated by our partner, The Women’s Outreach Network, a fully licensed mammography provider. Vans are brought to under served communities throughout the Metropolitan area, where women live, work or worship. We post hundreds of flyers in the neighborhood.
Since 1986 over 140,000 women have been screened and nearly 700 breast cancers were found. We know that many lives were saved because of this program. Patient Navigation is provided to women with abnormal findings. The majority of screened patients has little or no relationship with health care providers, and has little or no health insurance.
Patient navigation is essential in ensuring proper and timely follow-up. Over the years we have developed partnerships with hospital centers in the New York Metropolitan area. These centers are both willing and able to provide needed diagnostics and treatment to our uninsured patients who have abnormal screening results.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) just published a study indicating that 94% of advanced breast cancer could have been diagnosed at early stages, when they could be successfully treated. Example, Mrs. Elizabeth Edwards (the wife of John Edwards, the candidate for Vice President) who did not have a mammogram in four years had her cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Imagine, if affluent, educated women do not have a yearly mammogram, what is the percentage of the uninsured and newly arrived immigrants who do? Our mammograms are completely free to the patient. We accept any woman who is in need of a mammogram!
The two leading risk factors for developing breast cancer are simply being a woman and growing older. Even though we cannot change those facts, we can fight back! The motto OBHF has adopted “Early Detection is our Only Protection” is the ultimate reality. Please contact us if you would like more information. Your support makes a tremendous impact in the lives of so many people!
