Florida Realtors^® Committed to Breast Cancer Early Detection

Here's how to find low-cost mammograms in your area — and catch breast cancer before it spreads.

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women in the United States — second only to lung cancer. About 297,790 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, and another 55,720 women will be diagnosed with non-invasive breast cancer. And 1 in 833 men in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.

Detecting breast cancer early, while it’s still non-invasive, improves the chances of successful treatment and also results in a nearly 100% five-year survival rate.

Recognizing that busy Realtors may overlook their own preventive healthcare, Florida Realtors® created its Early Detection Task Force, which comprises breast cancer survivors and others dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of annual breast-cancer screenings.

The American Cancer Society recommends women have the option to have a mammogram every year, starting at age 40, followed by routine screening mammography beginning at age 45. Women age 50 to 74 and at average risk for breast cancer should typically get a mammogram every two years.

A survivor’s story

Connie Johnson, a Realtor with LPT Realty in Tampa Bay, credits early detection with saving her life—and she encourages others to be proactive about their health. After a mammogram revealed something suspicious in the fall of 2021, doctors offered her the option to wait six months. But she was unwilling to risk it, so she sought a second opinion and agreed to a biopsy right away.

“I waited for my test results over the holidays,” she says. “My diagnosis was an eye-opener for me. Nobody in my family ever had it. I would recommend an annual screening whether you have any indications or family history or not."

Following surgery at Moffitt Cancer Center, Magnolia Campus in Tampa, Johnson remains cancer-free. “If you have the slightest inkling there’s something going on get tested right away,” she says. “If I hadn’t proceeded with early detection and insisted on finding out, the cancer could have spread.” Today, Johnson sits on the early detection board at Moffitt and serves as a spokesperson for the cause.

Early detection screenings and resources

Our task force has done the legwork for you by compiling this list of resources to help you find low-cost mammograms:

The Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (statewide): Also known as the Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, this program offers free or low-cost screenings for those who meet eligibility requirements. To see if you qualify, call your County Health Department.

FDA Mammography Database: The U.S. Food & Drug Administration maintains a Mammography Facility Database that is updated periodically. Click here to Find a mammography facility near you.

Susan G. Komen Breast Care Helpline: This helpline provides information about breast health, breast cancer, local and national resources and information about clinical trials. Visit Susan G. Komen online, call (877) 465-6636 or email helpline@komen.org.

Mobile mammograms (Tampa Bay area): The Florida Building Inspection (FBI) Group makes it easy for women in the Tampa Bay area to get screened for breast cancer by working with mobile mammography teams to bring local buses out to communities. “We’ve been doing this for seven years, and now we have both Advent Health and 3D Mobile Mammography involved,” says Dustie Amatangelo, FBI Group’s vice president of Business Development. FBI offers scholarships for those who don’t have health insurance and find themselves unable to afford the self-pay fee. “We actually pick up the fee and make sure they can get a scan,” Amatangelo says. “That happens not only from our company but from other agents who partner with us because they feel strongly about the mission. Don’t delay, get on the bus!” Check the bus schedule by clicking here. 

Florida Realtors supplemental coverage: Aflac offers a cancer policy exclusively for Florida Realtors members. While this policy is only for those who have not been diagnosed with cancer, if you it in place prior to a cancer diagnosis it covers a large portion of treatment costs. Supplemental cancer insurance is designed to help with expenses that traditional insurance may not cover. Aflac cancer insurance doesn't just help with medical expenses, but the cash benefits can also help you with everyday costs. With Aflac cancer insurance, cash is delivered to the policyholder rather than going through a doctor or hospital first. You can use these benefits to help pay for your mortgage payments, electricity bills or medication refills—it’s completely up to you. Click here to learn more.