St. Paul, MN – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Representative Connie Bernardy (DFL-New Brighton), a breast cancer survivor, encourages Minnesotans to continue or begin routine health screenings by getting a mammogram. One in eight women will get breast cancer during their lifetime.
“Doctors and nurses shared with me how critical it is people get their health screenings done - especially during this pandemic,” said Rep. Bernardy. “I hope sharing my story inspires Minnesotans to get screenings scheduled and done on time. Skin, colorectal, breast, cervical, and prostate screenings save lives. Early detection is important.”
In the fall of 2020, following a routine mammogram, Rep. Bernardy’s doctors detected a very small mass and determined it was early-stage breast cancer. Rep. Bernardy was treated at the University of Minnesota and successfully had the cancer cells removed within one month of detection.
The Minnesota Department of Health’s Sage Screening Programs help keep Minnesotans healthy through screening and early detection of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. Free screenings are provided to people who:
o Do not have insurance
o Have insurance that does not cover screening or has a deductible or co-pay
o Have income within program guidelines
Eligibility requirements can be found here. For questions about screenings, please call SAGE at 1-888-643-2584 or email health.sage@state.mn.us.
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