KING COUNTY, WA - During National Nurses Week (May 6-12), Public Health Nurses are urging all women, especially those with lower screening rates like low-income women, ethnic minorities and the uninsured, to get screened for cervical cancer and breast cancer.

Women with limited medical resources can take advantage of free cervical cancer and breast cancer screenings on the following days:

• Thursday, May 17, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  Vintage Park Apartments, 13737 12th Ave SW #371, Seattle
  Free diabetes screening available
• Wednesday, May 23 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  Delridge Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, 5071 Delridge Way, Seattle

Space is limited, so contact Giselle Zapata-Garcia from the Community Health Access Program (CHAP) at 1-800-756-5437 to schedule an appointment.

One nurse's story

"We're often involved in assisting women who can't afford Pap tests and mammograms and in providing them service," said nurse Agnes Black, screening coordinator for Public Health's Breast and Cervical Health Program at the Downtown Public Health Center.

"One client, who I'll call Debra, had a job but no health insurance. We helped enroll her in the Breast and Cervical Health Program, and eventually did a biopsy which came out negative for malignancy. Debra now says she wants to be a nurse. This story is a tribute to the value of both nurses and cancer screenings," said Black.

For more information on mammograms and cervical exams, visit www.metrokc.gov/health/women/mammogram.htm.