“I urge all local women who might be eligible to participate in this screening to call right away for an appointment which is required,” Onorato said. Western Queens women who need a breast cancer screening will be able to get one on Thursday, May 20 when the American-Italian Cancer Foundation mobile mammography van visits the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House in Long Island City, state Senator George Onorato (D–Astoria) announced.

“They are free to eligible women 40 and older,” the Astoria lawmaker said. “This is a wonderful collaboration between the American Italian Cancer Foundation and the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House to help safeguard the health of women who have had limited access to breast health care.”

Onorato also noted that Multi-Diagnostic Services, Inc. is providing the screening services. “I urge all local women who might be eligible to participate in this screening to call right away for an appointment which is required,” Onorato said.

For eligible women without health insurance, services will be paid for by the Screening Partnerships of the New York State Cancer Services Program or through donations made to the American-Italian Cancer Foundation.

For women who have health insurance, the insurance plan will be billed for the services, but participants will not be charged a co-payment nor will they receive a bill.

Women covered by Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance must bring their membership cards with them in order to receive services.

The Mobile Mammography Van will be at the Settlement House, located at 10-25 41 Ave., Long Island City, on Thursday, May 20 beginning at 11 a.m., but Onorato reminded once again that “an appointment is necessary to schedule a screening”.

Eligible women must be 40 years of age or older, must be New York City residents “and must not have had a mammogram in the past 12 months”, Onorato emphasized.

“This is a great opportunity for local women to take proactive steps to take control of their own health care and receive screening for breast cancer, which is more easily treatable and curable if discovered in its early stages,” Onorato said. “I hope eligible women in my district will make the call. There is nothing to lose and a great deal to gain.”

For information and to make an appointment, call 1- 718-784-7447, extension 154.