Avon Products Foundation Breast Health Initiative
Boston Medical Center has received $2.4 million in grant support from the Avon Foundation to support a
comprehensive breast cancer screening and diagnostic program. The grant will target women challenged by
language, cultural and economic barriers.
Need a Referral?
If you are a woman with a breast problem and need a referral to the Breast Health Center at the Women's Health
Group at Boston Medical Center please call 617-638-7428!
Who are the women being helped?
A typical patient is a woman recently immigrated from Central America, Albania, Russia, or Haiti. She or her nurse
or doctor at her neighborhood health center have just found a breast lump. She is very scared. She has never been
to the hospital; she doesn't speak enough English to ask directions if she gets lost in the building. She didn't
understand to bring her mammograms with her for her visit, which may mean that she has to wait for hours or even
come back another day. She will be seen in the Breast Health Center, which provides complete consultation and
diagnostic services in one visit for any woman presenting or referred for breast complaints
How contributions from the Avon Products Foundation help women
This grant is helping to provide much needed services for the women who come to BMC. You are helping each
patient coming to the Breast Health Center; you are providing an interpreter in her own language who will speak
to her before her visit, for as much time as she needs. Because of this interpreter she will know where to go,
how to get there, and what will happen. That same personal interpreter will accompany her on her visit and tests
that day.
The grant provides her a case coordinator who will go the extra mile to get her mammograms where they need to be,
to make sure all her appointments are in order, who makes sure that we help with whatever it takes to help her keep
her appointment, assistance with transportation, speaking with her employer, childcare assistance. This case coordinator
will also help to cut down the time she has to wait in the waiting room, and help make sure that she understands what her
next steps are. The case coordinator supports her team of doctors, nurse, technicians, so that she can received all the tests,
procedures and consultations in the office in a single day, and provide her quickly with the information she needs.
With this grant we can provide her with "exceptional care without exception".
Women's Health Group
Launched by the Women's Health Group at BMC - a multidisciplinary, primary care-based practice for women - the Avon
Products Foundation Breast Health Initiative will strategically link clinicians, outreach workers, advocates and
researchers to provide better, more accessible care to women in low-income, urban communities, thereby decreasing
the number of undetected cases of breast cancer.
Avon Breast Cancer Crusade
Funds for the grant were raised by the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which was founded in 1993 by Avon Products Inc.
The Avon Crusade Mission is to fund medical research into the possible prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of
breast cancer, and to provide women, particularly those who are medically underserved, with access to breast cancer
education, early detection screening services, clinical care, financial assistance and support services.
Insurance Information
If you have insurance you will need a referral from your primary care provider or your OB/BYN, in order to be seen
at the breast health center.
If you do not have insurance you can call 617-414-5029 to find out if you qualify for free care or 800-792-4355 to
inquire about Mass Health or low cost insurance through Boston Healthnet.
You may also qualify for a FREE mammogram and breast exam through the Women's Health Network. For more information
call 617-414-1818.
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