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Community breast health navigator program launched in Belle Glade

Posted at 7:21 PM, Oct 29, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-30 05:30:18-04

BELLE GLADE, Fla. — Brenda Wright thought she had a lump in her breast. She had questions.

"You can just call her and she's available, she's in the community," said Wright.

She spoke with a community breast health navigator.

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"The Belle Glade area, to have someone in that capacity is great."

Fanny Jackson is the community breast health navigator.

"We went over most additional diagnostics needed it doesn't mean you have cancer but to rule out that there may be," said Jackson.

Jackson is the first community breast health navigator in the Glades funded by Komen Florida. She'll help those in need of mammograms and other breast health testing who live in Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay and Canal Point.

Tuesday afternoon Kate Watt, the executive director for Komen Florida, and other leaders officially launched the program.

"That they know where community resources are located for diagnosing testing and to help them with other barriers to care such as food or housing or any other needs to make sure that they stay in health care."

Komen Florida says early detection is the key to saving more lives.

"There's a high poverty rate out here in the glades that we've seen through our research and we really need to have a program like this," Watt said. "Jackson is ready for the challenge. We have resources it's just letting them know that they are here."

The community breast health navigator will be located at Lakeside Medical Center in Belle Glade.