If you need assistance obtaining a mammogram, go to http://ct.gov/dph/screening or call (860) 509-7804 for more information.

Mammogram screenings are x-ray exams used to detect breast cancer in women who may not show or be aware of breast cancer symptoms. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all women ages 50 to 74 to have a mammogram screening every two years. Women ages 40 to 49 years should discuss with their health care provider whether and how often they should get screened. Early detection is the best defense against cancer for all women. Regular mammograms are still the best route to find breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage. Screening early and regularly saves life.

Breast Cancer Statistics in Women

The American Cancer Society estimates more than 43,700 women in the United States will die this year from breast cancer and that more than 480 will be right here in Connecticut. There are more than 4 million women with a current or past history of  breast cancer. These numbers warrant attention because when detected early, a woman’s chance of surviving breast cancer increases. Breast cancer screening exams can help detect the disease at its earliest stages of development, often resulting in less aggressive treatments and ultimately saving lives.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of all races and ethnicities. In 2022 Connecticut ranked fourth in the nation for breast cancer screening rates in women 40 years and older (76.2%) which is higher than the national rate of 70.2%. 81.7% of women in Connecticut aged 50-74 reported that they had a mammogram within the preceding two years versus 76.3 in the U.S.. In 2020 the Connecticut incidence of breast cancer was 133.2 per 100,000 women – the highest rate in the U.S. (U.S. rate 119.2/100,000). The 2020 Connecticut breast cancer mortality rate was 18.0 per 100,000 women – compared to the U.S. rate 19.1/100,000). These rates highlight the importance of detecting breast cancer early when treatments are more effective. [Sources: statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov; https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/index.htm].

Screening services for women in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Public Health’s Early Detection and Prevention Program (CEDPP) has provided outreach, education, screening, diagnostic and treatment services for breast and cervical cancer, colorectal cancer and heart disease to low income, uninsured and under insured Connecticut residents since 1995. The program uses a holistic approach of care seamlessly integrating multiple programs that to provide all the screening, diagnostic, and navigation services in a single CEDPP enrollment.

What if you cannot afford a Mammogram

The Connecticut Early Detection and Prevention Program provides no-cost breast cancer screening. CEDPP receives funding from State Administrative funds and a grant from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The program started a new 5 year cooperative agreement with the CDC on July 1, 2023. During the previous 5 year grant, the program provided many no-cost services, including over 11,908 mammograms, to Connecticut’s low-income women who are under/uninsured!

CEDPP services are offered at 21 hospitals, 40 Federally Qualified Health centers and 15 Planned Parenthood clinics throughout the Connecticut, with over 4,500 residents screened annually for breast cancer and a total of more than 90,900 residents screened since program inception. Women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer are fast tracked for treatment under the DSS BCC Treatment Act. CEDPP employs the services of Community Health Workers and patient navigators to engage residents and provide cancer outreach and education in populations of focus to promote screening and overcome barriers to healthcare access.