Be Your Own
Breast Friend
Take your breast health
into your own hands
Gateway to Hope is on a mission to increase awareness about breast cancer education and screening throughout Missouri.
Know Yourself.
Know Your History.
Know Your Risks.
Whether you’re a teen or in your 50s, know how to keep your breasts healthy with breast self-awareness, know your personal history, and understand the risks for developing cancer.
Sign up here for more information!
Provide us with some basic information and someone from Gateway to Hope will reach out to you.
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At no point will Gateway to Hope sell or transfer your personal information.
In Your Teens
- Regularly look at your breasts in the mirror to get familiar with them.
- Feel your breasts so you know what the skin feels like normally. Here’s what to look for.
- Talk with your family and close relatives to find out if there is a history of breast or other gynecological cancers.
- The age at which you started your period can impact your risk.
In Your Twenties
- Become familiar with your breasts through frequent checks, noting their shape, size, and characteristics. Here’s what to look for.
- Be on the lookout for any changes in your breasts. If you notice something, you should tell your healthcare provider.
- Nearly 80% of young women diagnosed with breast cancer find their breast abnormality themselves.
- Tell your healthcare provider about your family history and develop a plan for routine screenings to begin.
In Your Thirties
- An annual medical exam should include a clinical breast exam by a trusted healthcare provider at some point during your 30s. Here’s what to look for.
- If you or a family member has/had cancer you should get screened for breast cancer 10 years earlier than when that cancer was first diagnosed.
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women In this age group.
In Your Thirties
- Mammograms and/or other breast imaging are typically recommended within this age range. The timing depends on your unique health history. Here’s what to look for.
- Not all forms of breast cancer show noticeable symptoms which is why routine imaging is recommended when appropriate.
- Annually, breast cancer accounts for 1 in 3 new female cancers.
In Your Thirties
- While there are varying recommendations for 60 and up, GTH believes that the type of screening and frequency is dependent on your health history.
- Discuss a plan with your healthcare provider to continue to monitor your breast health needs. Here’s what to look for.
By doing a regular breast check, you may notice something.
Any noticeable or “feel-able” change is something to tell your doctor.
Notice anything different?
We want you to regularly check your breasts. Learn what looks and feels normal for you.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
SIZE: Did a breast change in either appearance or size that is unusual?
LUMPS OR BUMPS: Can you feel a lump or a firmness in your breast or near your underarm? Have you noticed swelling or irritation in or around your breasts?
NIPPLE CHANGES: Is there a discharge? Did a nipple suddenly turn inward?
Not all forms of breast cancer are noticeable which is why routine imaging is recommended based on your unique health history.
90% of women diagnosed
with early-stage breast cancer have excellent outcomes!
Did You Know?
Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with breast cancer in Missouri.
11%
WOMEN IN RURAL AREAS are 11% more likely to have a late-stage cancer diagnosis than those in urban areas
43%
WOMEN OF COLOR have a 43% greater risk of dying from breast cancer than white women
1/3
ALMOST 1/3 OF LOW-INCOME WOMEN inadequately follow up on abnormal breast cancer screening results.
Who We Are
Gateway to Hope (GTH) is a non-profit organization that offers free services in Missouri to help you obtain affordable, high-quality breast health care in locations convenient to you. We educate, advocate on your behalf, and support you every step of the way, through routine breast cancer screenings, to treatment and beyond.
We want to lower the rate of incurable breast cancer and tackle any issues that are a barrier to you getting the medical care you need AND deserve.
These services are provided in part by a partnership with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services via contract number CS240381001. Gateway to Hope is a 501c3 organization that partners with the community to deliver support services to individuals across the state of Missouri and in Southern Illinois.
Why we support you —
and your health!
Gateway to Hope offers a wide variety of services to help you access and navigate affordable breast cancer screenings and services.
Our services are FREE and include:
An Experienced Navigator
A professionally trained GTH staff person will support you every step of the way as you seek breast health information and services.
Emotional Support
We know this can be a scary topic that leads to A LOT of questions. Our compassionate team understands and is here for you.
Insurance Enrollment Help
Insurance is NOT required to participate, but we can help you get enrolled in the right care for you.
Financial Assistance
Don’t let cost be a barrier to getting your health care needs met! We can connect you with resources in and outside of GTH that can cover the cost of transportation and getting screened.
Connect With Us!
CALL
(877)-GTH-HLTH
SOCIAL
FACEBOOK: GTHHLTH
INSTAGRAM: GATEWAY TO HOPE