RUMFORD – In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Tri County Health Services in Rumford is offering free clinical breast exams and, if needed, a coupon for a free mammogram, to qualified women during October.

The mammogram is courtesy of Rumford Community Hospital.

In addition, at the end of October, Tri County will give away a basket of women’s health products. The prize is open to any woman who has an appointment at Tri County in October.

This is the 20th year of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older, and breast cancer deaths have declined by 1.6 percent between 1989 and 1995.

“If all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection methods – mammography plus clinical breast exam – breast cancer death rates would drop much further, up to 10 percent, said Deb Gray, health systems coordinator for Tri County. “The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely – once is not enough. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 170 Maine women will die from breast cancer in 2004.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment for a free clinical breast exam, call Tri County Health Services at 364-3960 or toll-free at (800) 346-9461.

Tri County Health Services is a participating provider with the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program. Women age 40 and over who do not have health insurance are encouraged to call Tri County to see if they qualify for the program, which offers free PAP tests, breast exams, and mammograms for women who meet the guidelines for the program.

The agency is a program of Western Maine Community Action and provides a wide range of quality, affordable health services for women and men, teens and adults. Services include routine physical exams; sports physicals; birth control counseling and supplies; emergency contraception; testing, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections; anonymous HIV testing and counseling; immunizations and laboratory testing. The Rumford office of Tri County Health Services is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 4:30.

Tri County Health Services has offices in Auburn, Norway, Rumford and Farmington.

Western Maine Community Action is a nonprofit agency providing services to people in Franklin, Androscoggin and Oxford counties since 1965.