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FUJIFILM and the National Breast Cancer Foundation Provide Free Breast Cancer Screening As Part of Images of Health: Mammograms for a Million Moms Campaign

Posted on: Thursday, 3 May 2007, 15:00 CDT

STAMFORD, Conn., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2007, it is estimated that 178,480 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in the United States and 40,460 women will die from the disease. In New York City alone, more than 5,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually and nearly 1,200 die from the disease. While annual mammograms are recommended for woman over the age of 40, more than half of U.S. women of screening age do not recognize how critical breast cancer screening is or do not have the means to get a mammogram regularly. This Mother's Day, Fujifilm is encouraging all women over 40 to give themselves the gift of health and is funding free mammograms to women in one Harlem neighborhood as part of its public education campaign called Images of Health: Mammograms for a Million Moms.

On Monday, May 7, women of screening age are invited to receive a FREE mammogram at PS 149 Sojourner Truth School, 41 West 117th Street, New York. In addition to a free mammogram, a health educator will be onsite to answer questions and provide educational materials to help encourage better breast health year round. The free mammograms are being funded by Fujifilm and the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), and carried out by the American- Italian Cancer Foundation (AICF). Appointments are required and can be made by calling 1-800-564-6868.

"It is critical that all women have the opportunity to participate in preventive healthcare, such as breast cancer screening," said LeShawn Hodge, parent coordinator at PS 149. "We recognize the importance of early detection and are delighted to be able to give the mothers and grandmothers of our students, as well as women throughout the neighborhood -- women who otherwise may never get screened -- the opportunity to receive a service that could potentially save their lives."

In addition to funding the mammograms, Fujifilm will be donating $2,500 to PS 149 to support its art program, and one dollar for each mammography pledge card that is returned, for an additional donation of up to $2,500.

The free mammography day is an extension of Fujifilm's Images of Health: Mammograms for a Million Moms campaign. Launched in October 2006, the campaign was established to raise awareness of the life-saving importance of mammography in the early detection of breast cancer, and to encourage the millions of women of screening age who have not had a mammogram to make a pledge and to follow through on that pledge and get a mammogram. The first step is awareness, and the second step is action -- both of which are promoted on http://www.imagesofhealth.com/. The Web site offers women a free downloadable brochure about mammography, a video that demonstrates the mammography process, testimonials from internationally recognized mammography researchers on the importance of regular screenings and -- most importantly -- includes a facility locator so women can find a certified mammography facility in their area.

The Images of Health: Mammograms for a Million Moms campaign is also raising money for the NBCF, which provides mammograms to women in need nationwide. A portion of the sales of Fujifilm's pink QuickSnap 800 Flash One-Time-Use Camera are donated to the NBCF. To date, the NBCF has received more than $20,000 from camera sales, as well as contributions of $300,000 and two recently FDA-approved Fuji digital mammography systems, known as Fuji Computed Radiography for Mammography (FCRm).

"We're excited to bring the Images of Health campaign to the next level by taking action and providing women with free mammograms," said Randy Nagel, Director of Corporate Communications for FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA. "The campaign has been a tremendous success to date in raising awareness of the importance of early detection. We look forward to continuing our efforts to motivate women to take better care of their health and to help provide the means for them to do so."

About the National Breast Cancer Foundation

The National Breast Cancer Foundation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a non-profit, charitable foundation whose mission is to save lives by providing access to free and low-cost mammograms for those with limited resources, increased awareness through continuing education programs, and hope-inspired support programs. For details about NBCF, please visit http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/.

About the American-Italian Cancer Foundation

The American-Italian Cancer Foundation's Free Mobile Mammography Program educates New York City-area women and provides free mammograms and clinical breast exams on its mobile mammography vans. This vital program reaches women located in all five boroughs of NYC and select areas of Long Island and Westchester.

Since 1987 the American-Italian Cancer Foundation's Free Mobile Mammography Program has reached more than 83,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has provided free mammograms and clinical breast exams to 55,300 women. Of these women, 221 have been diagnosed with breast cancer and referred for treatment.

About FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc.

As one of the FUJIFILM Corporation family of companies with 70 years of imaging experience and almost $25 billion in sales, FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc. is a leading provider of diagnostic imaging products and network systems to meet the needs of healthcare facilities today and well into the future. Fujifilm's broad array of products - including film processing equipment, digital x-ray systems, women's imaging solutions and Synapse(R) PACS and image and information management systems - offer clinically-proven solutions for acquiring, processing, presenting, managing and storing radiological images in a variety of healthcare environments. FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA is headquartered in Stamford, CT.

For more information on the FUJIFILM America companies, please visit http://www.fujimed.com/, http://www.enovationgraphics.com/ and http://www.fujifilmusa.com/.

(C) 2007 FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc. Contact: Kerry Kalinski Cubitt Jacobs & Prosek 203-378-1152 x 108 kkalinski@cjpcom.com

FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc.

CONTACT: Kerry Kalinski of Cubitt Jacobs & Prosek,+1-203-378-1152 x 108, kkalinski@cjpcom.com, for FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA,Inc.

Source: PRNewswire

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