Need A Free Mammogram? M-Line Is Working

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- She does not have insurance.

Right away a lot of folks, especially these days, can relate to that.

Belinda Hatcher-Harris found a lump on Buddy Check 12 day. Actually, she found a lump in both breasts. They felt hard and between the size of rice and peas.

She was not about to ignore it.

Why? Brenda says, "My father has three sisters with breast cancer and my mother had three sisters with breast cancer."

No doubt cancer runs all through her family. (Her own mother has fought ovarian cancer.)

So Belinda says she called a local agency but was told, basically, you're out of luck with no insurance.

"For about 30 minutes I felt low," Belinda says.

But she found herself lying awake at night watching the clock turn midnight, then 2 am, then 4 am.

Then she remembered the new Mammogram Hotline, the M-line, set up for women (or men) who can't afford a mammogram.

"I called the hotline and they took my information," she says.

She says it was an answer to many prayers, emails and phone calls.

In October, Jeannie Blaylock launched the first Mammogram Hotline on the First Coast. Thousands of folks donated "Buddy Bucks" to help.

The donations poured in over several months. More than $70,000 was given to the M-Line, a project with the non-profit Komen for the Cure North Florida.

Since October, more than 1,100 women like Belinda have called the hotline.

Belinda is grateful for the outpouring of support. She is 49. She has two almost-grown sons who adore their mom so much they came to Baptist Medical Center for their mom's appointment.

With no insurance, Belinda qualified for a free mammogram and a follow-up ultrasound.

Dr. Mary Alderman at Baptist looked at Belinda's digital mammogram and right off the bat was not alarmed.

She could clearly see a white spot on the mammogram image. It was shaped like a sphere with bright white dots rimming the edge in a partial semi-circle.

Dr. Alderman said it looked like a classic "oil cyst," which is benign--not cancer.

She sent Belinda in for an ultrasound. Dr. Alderman said that test also showed an oil cyst with little dots of calcifications around the rim.

"It is not cancer," Dr. Alderman told Belinda, still lying on her back in the ultrasound room.

Belinda smiled and said, "Yeah! Praise God!"

It's not easy worrying about a lump. Is it cancer? Is it not?

But it's even worse worrying yourself crazy about how you're going to pay to find out what you have.

Belinda says, "Call the hotline." She says, remember, "You're not alone."

If you need a free mammogram here's the hotline number: 1-877-9-MY-MAMO. A real person will answer the phone.

If you want a Buddy Check 12 kit, just call 904-202-CARE to Baptist Health. You'll get one in the mail at no charge.

If you would still like to donate Buddy Bucks there's a Mammogram Hotline account set up at Community First Credit Unions. Every $100 means a free mammogram to someone in need.

If Buddy Check or the M-Line has helped you, Jeannie Blaylock would love to chat with you. CLICK HERE to email Jeannie.

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