Susan G. Komen Foundation

I called the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Even though I already know that I am too young for their programs, I figured that maybe I might get lucky. And I did.

I reached an automated line that sent me to a real person. Maryanne. She was very helpful. She asked about the condition. And said that usually they refer younger women to Planned Parenthood. But since that was where I had started from, and Planned Parenthood does not do Mammography or Ultrasounds, we were at a different square one.

But Maryanne thinks outside of the box. (I liked Maryanne, can you tell?)She gave me the number to a local Komen Affiliate to call. (In San Francisco the number is: (415) 397-8812.) Maryanne said to ask the person answering the line about free of charge or low cost Mammograms and Ultrasounds. They should be able to direct me to a local facility or clinic that performs these tests.

If that did not work out, due to my age, then I should call the American Cancer Society next. The number is: (800) ACS-2345

She mentioned the YWCA. However they are fairly sticky about the age limitations. But I went ahead and pulled up the website anyway. The program is called ENCOREplus.

The main page is:
http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=djISI6PIKpG&b=284783

And the page for Breast Cancer Screening is:
http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=djISI6PIKpG&b=297532

The local Office for where I am currently at is:
YWCA Silicon Valley
375 S 3rd St., San Jose , CA 95112-3649
Phone: 408-295-4011 Fax: 408-295-0608

Where you go to find yours is here:
http://www.ywca.org/siteapps/custom/ywca/local.aspx?c=djISI6PIKpG&b=281414

The last place that Maryanne suggested that I try contacting was the FDA. (As in the Food and Drug Administration) They have a list of certified Mammography clinics that the Komen Foundation uses to refer women to. The number for the FDA that the Komen Foundation uses is: (800)363-2068.

And that is sadly all I have today. But I am pushing onward. More calls. And hopefully more directions to look into. (And Maryanne said that she would call me back if she was able to find out anything more that might be useful. For some reason, I actually do believe her. She was wonderful!)