Special to the Herald

Free mammograms will be available for eligible women when the Effingham County Health Department brings a mobile mammogram unit to Rincon in February.

Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling 912-356-2946 or 912-307-9235.

The St. Joseph/Candler Mobile Mammography Unit will be in the parking lot of the Effingham County YMCA, 1224 Patriot Dr., Rincon, on Monday, Feb. 3, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Women aged 40 and older without health insurance coverage can make an appointment for free mammography screening during this special event.

The free mammograms are provided by the Coastal Health District’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program which aims to increase access to cancer screening for women without health insurance coverage.

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in women. However, many cancer deaths can be avoided through regular screening.

A mammogram is the best test for finding breast cancer early. It is a series of X-ray pictures of the breast that allow doctors to look for early signs of breast cancer, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt during a breast exam. When breast cancer is detected and treated early, the chance of survival is greatly increased, and many women go on to live long and healthy lives.