Don’t Forget to Get Your Yearly Mammogram!

Breast cancer screenings, also known as mammograms, can help save lives. If you are over 50 or have certain risk factors, mammograms are the best way to check for breast cancer and find it at an early stage. Finding breast cancer early can help with treatment and improve chances of survival.

Getting Your Mammogram

Louisiana Healthcare Connections members at least 40 years of age can get one mammogram per year at no cost. Plus, members ages 50-74 earn $50 in rewards when they get their mammogram! There are two ways to get your screening:

From Your Provider

Call your doctor to schedule your mammogram. Be sure to talk to your doctor about your family medical history and any other factors that may put you at a higher risk for breast cancer.

If you need help scheduling your mammogram, please call us at 1-866-595-8133 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 7a.m. to 7p.m. We will work with you to make sure you get the care you need. We can also help you find a provider in our network, or you can find one online.

At a Mobile Mammogram Event

Health clinics and mobile mammogram units provide free mammograms all across Louisiana.

Six things to know about getting a mammogram. What is it? A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. It is used to find breast changes. Mammograms are the best tool we have to find breast cancer early. What to expect. Mammograms take about twenty minutes. The breast is compressed between two plastic plates for a few seconds while the X-ray is taken. The doctor may reposition the breast and do the process again to have another view. This procedure is done on both breasts. Mammograms may be a bit uncomfortable, but can be life saving. When to schedule it. 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. What to wear. Wear a two piece outfit because you will need to remove your top and bra. Do NOT apply deodorant, antiperspirant, powder or lotion on or near your chest. These products can appear as white spots on the x-ray. Getting the results. You should get your result within 10 days. If you don’t, you should call your doctor and ask about them. If your doctor finds something suspicious, they will ask you to come in for more tests. This doesn’t mean you have cancer. A suspicious finding may just be a dense breast tissue or a cyst. It may also mean the x-ray wasn’t clear and needs to be retaken. It’s important to listen to your doctor if they ask for more tests, it could help them find breast cancer early. What you pay. Louisiana Healthcare Connections members get their mammogram services at no cost. There are also opportunities to get free mammograms from mobile mammogram events. Members ages fifty to seventy four earn fifty dollars in healthy rewards for their yearly breast cancer screening.

  • Stay updated with #MammogramMondays on Facebook!

    The first and third Mondays of each month will be Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ Mammogram Mondays. On these Mondays, we will share upcoming mammogram events and important facts on our Facebook page. To tune into our #MammogramMondays, follow us on Facebook @lahealthconnect.

Where to find more information:

For information about breast cancer and mammograms, visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation or the American Cancer Society.