Franklin Primary Health Center Offers Free Screenings at Pink for Prevention Event Oct. 27

MOBILE, Ala. — Franklin Primary Health Center will hold a free Pink for Prevention health event Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Franklin Medical Mall on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, offering breast cancer awareness information, health screenings and help connecting with care as Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close.

The event begins at 10 a.m. at 1303 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and is open to the public at no cost. A mammography technician will be on site, but anyone who wants a mammogram during the event must make an appointment in advance.

What will be offered

According to Franklin, Pink for Prevention will include:

• Breast cancer awareness information and education
• General health screenings
• Care access screenings to help people learn what services and coverage they may qualify for
• Community resources
• Health and wellness information
• Other available health services offered by the health center
• Mammograms with an on-site technician, by appointment only

Care access screenings are a common feature of community health center events. They are designed to help people who may be uninsured, underinsured or unsure of their options find out whether they qualify for programs such as Medicaid, marketplace insurance plans, sliding-fee discounts or free screening programs, and then connect them with a provider.

At a glance

• What: Pink for Prevention free community health event
• When: Tuesday, Oct. 27, beginning at 10 a.m.
• Where: Franklin Medical Mall, 1303 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Mobile
• Cost: Free and open to the public
• Mammograms: Available on site with a mammography technician; an appointment is required

People interested in a mammogram should contact Franklin Primary Health Center before the event to schedule a time and to ask what to bring, such as a photo ID and any insurance card.

Why screening matters

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States other than skin cancer, and the American Cancer Society estimates that about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in her life. Men can develop breast cancer as well, though it is far less common.

Screening mammograms are low-dose X-rays of the breast that can find cancer before a lump can be felt or symptoms appear. Cancers found at an early stage are generally easier to treat, and finding them early gives patients more treatment options.

In 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of national experts, updated its guidance to recommend that women at average risk get a screening mammogram every two years starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74. Women with a family history of breast cancer, a known genetic mutation or other risk factors may need to begin earlier or be screened more often, and should talk with a health care provider about a plan that fits them.

Signs to discuss with a provider

Screening is meant for people without symptoms. Anyone who notices a change in the breast should not wait for a screening event and should contact a health care provider. Changes worth reporting include:

• A new lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
• Swelling, dimpling or skin irritation
• Nipple pain, a nipple turning inward or unusual discharge
• Redness, scaliness or other changes to the skin of the breast or nipple
• A change in the size or shape of a breast

Many breast changes turn out not to be cancer, but a provider can determine whether follow-up imaging or other tests are needed.

Paying for a mammogram

Cost is one of the most common reasons people put off screening. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private health insurance plans must cover recommended screening mammograms for women 40 and older without a copay or deductible. Medicare covers screening mammograms as well, and Alabama Medicaid also provides coverage.

For women without insurance, the Alabama Department of Public Health operates the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which provides free screening to women who meet age and income guidelines. Community health centers such as Franklin can help patients find out whether they qualify for that program or for the center’s own sliding-fee discounts, which are based on household income.

About Franklin Primary Health Center

Franklin Primary Health Center is a nonprofit community health center that has served Mobile since the mid-1970s, growing from a neighborhood clinic into an organization with locations in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Like other federally supported health centers, it provides primary and preventive care to patients regardless of their ability to pay and offers fees on a sliding scale.

The Franklin Medical Mall on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue is one of the organization’s central locations. Franklin also operates sites such as Maysville Medical Center on Duval Street in Mobile, North Baldwin Family Health Center in Bay Minette and South Baldwin Family Health Center in Foley.

Cancer screening has been a growing focus for the health center. In October, the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program awarded Franklin $534,937 to expand use of its existing mobile cancer screening unit in Baldwin, Choctaw, Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties. Franklin received earlier grants through the same program in August to start a rural behavioral health telehealth program in those five counties and to develop a rural training track in its family medicine residency.

The health center also relies on community fundraising. Board member Pamela Battiste was recently named Board Member of the Year by the Alabama Primary Health Care Association after helping secure more than $78,000 in charitable gifts for Franklin, money that supports the Franklin Buskey Health Equity Fund. That fund pays for specialty care services that Franklin does not provide itself, which can be out of reach for patients who are uninsured or underinsured.

Part of a month of awareness events

October is recognized nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and organizations across the Mobile area have held events to encourage screening and support survivors. Pink for Prevention is among the last of this year’s local observances, giving residents one more chance before the month ends to learn about screening options and schedule a mammogram.

Health officials stress that awareness should not end with October. Women who are due for a screening, or who are unsure whether they are due, can talk with their primary care provider or contact a community health center at any time of year.

Tips for a mammogram appointment

For people scheduling a mammogram at the event or elsewhere, a few general tips can make the visit smoother:

• Bring a photo ID, an insurance card if you have one, and the name of your primary care provider so results can be shared.
• Wear a two-piece outfit, since you will need to undress from the waist up.
• Avoid deodorant, antiperspirant, powder or lotion under the arms or on the breasts on the day of the exam, because they can show up on the images.
• Let the technician know about any breast changes, previous breast surgery or implants.
• Ask when and how you will receive your results, and what happens if more imaging is needed.

Being called back for additional images after a screening mammogram is fairly common and does not necessarily mean cancer has been found. Follow-up imaging often shows that an area is normal.