B14 Background Washington D.C. has one of the highest breast cancer mortality rates in the country(30.3 per 100,000)*. In June 2003, Howard University Cancer Center started Mammoday, a free breast cancer screening program for women in the Washington, D.C. area to help remedy this egregious public health disparity. Mammograms, in conjunction with clinical breast exams, are provided to low income, underinsured or uninsured women who are at least 40 years of age. Methods All participants complete a survey that takes into account all of the major breast cancer risk factors before being examined by a physician. The women then receive a clinical breast examination and mammogram. If the results warrant further investigation, an ultrasound and biopsy is offered at no cost to the patient. If the findings are positive, the patient will receive assistance from a patient navigator to obtain the health coverage needed for treatment. The survey data, the clinical breast examination, and radiologic results are all recorded for analysis. Results Using a pure frequency analysis, with a sample size of 243 patients, 17.0% resulted in an abnormal clinical breast exam and 12.9% resulted in an abnormal mammogram. Over the four years that the program has been in existence, 304 women have received breast cancer screening and 10 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Conclusion The results prove the necessity for a screening program such as Mammoday, by discovering breast cancers that otherwise would have gone unnoticed . The importance of this program registers with the patients and leads to a follow-up rate of 19.4%.Due to its success, the program plans to expand by increasing the number of screenings per year in order to further impact the glaring statistics of breast cancer mortality in the District of Columbia. *American Cancer Society, Surveillance Research , 2007 Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B14.

B31 Background Washington D.C. has the highest breast cancer mortality rate in the country(30.3 per 100,000 )*. Project Early Awareness is a breast health education program of Howard University Cancer Center supported by the Prevent Cancer Foundation that serves to address this disparity. The program is designed for 10th-12th grade students in Washington, D.C.. Methods PEA sessions follow a standardized format. The class begins with a young breast cancer survivor’s story, followed by information on breast health topics including risk factors, breast growth and development, clinical breast exams, and mammography. The students are shown an age and culturally appropriate video on how to perform a breast self-exam. Students are then given breast models to practice breast self-exam techniques. The session ends with a question and answer period and a discussion on myths about breast cancer. At the completion of the program, they are handed an information packet to take home and share with their female relatives. Results Since 2001, 2,880 public high school students and their relatives have received breast health information through PEA. Pre and post-test evaluations have been enormously positive, showing a measurable impact in knowledge for the girls attending. Overall, the program generated improvements in specific knowledge elements. A 69% improvement was shown when asked if the age of menarche was a risk factor. The overall increase in self-efficacy for BSE was 39%. Conclusion The high breast cancer mortality rates of African American women living in the District of Columbia mandates the implementation of programs such as this, which focus on long term solutions towards reducing health disparities. PEA is able to reach these young women in a culturally sensitive manner and increase awareness, as well as the understanding of the key screening tools available to women as they age. *American Cancer Society, Surveillance Research , 2007 Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B31.