During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control wants to remind women of the importance of identifying breast cancer as early as possible.

About 40,000 women die annually from breast cancer, according to the CDC.

Survival rates are improving due to increased awareness of early cancer detection and improvements to cancer screening.

To help women take control of their health and continue the positive trend in survival rates, DHEC offers free breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings to qualified women through its Best Chance Network (BCN) program.

“Regular breast cancer screening can catch a cancer early, when it is most treatable,” said Dr. Virginie Daguise, MSPH, Director of DHEC’s Bureau of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention.

BCN provides free breast cancer screenings for qualifying women between the ages of 30 and 64 and free cervical cancer screenings for women between the ages of 21 and 64. Women must qualify to receive the free screenings.

For eligibility guidelines, or to learn about breast cancer prevention and statistics, visit www.scdhec.gov/breastcancer or call the Division of Cancer Prevention Hotline at 1-800-450-4611.