Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

The Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP), also known as Every Woman's Life strives to reduce sickness and death from breast and cervical cancer through screening exams.

The program contracts with screening sites throughout Virginia to provide free mammograms, clinical breast exams, Pap tests and pelvic exams to women who qualify.  

For detailed information about eligibility guidelines for the Every Woman's Life program, please click HERE. To locate the contact information of the screening provider site nearest you, click HERE.

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About the Every Woman's Life Program

The program operates under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990, Public Law 101-354. This Act authorized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and implement a national program to ensure that eligible woman receive regular screening tests for breast and cervical cancer and prompt follow-up when necessary. The screening tests are performed in accordance with current national recommendations.

National legislation does not directly permit payment for cancer treatment with CDC funds. However, the Breast & Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2001 allows women who have been enrolled in the Virginia BCCEDP and diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer by a contracted provider, to be enrolled in the state Medicaid program for payment of treatment services. Ongoing activities of state, community and local coalitions have also identified resources and networks of generous providers who ensure that women receive needed treatment.

Virginia is one of 70 state, territorial and tribal organizations that receive funding from the CDC to implement a comprehensive breast and cervical cancer detection program for older women.

To be eligible, women must be between the ages of 40 - 64, meet federal income guidelines, and be uninsured or underinsured. The CDC requires that the majority of patients enrolled through the BCCEDP be between the ages of 50-64; as a result limited appointment times may be available for women 40-49. The high incidence of breast and cervical cancer among low income, minority women in Virginia prompted the BCCEDP to make this population a priority.

Effective July 1, 2006 additional funds earmarked by the Virginia General Assembly will allow the Every Woman's Life program to provide diagnostic testing to eligible women between the ages of 18-39 who are symtomatic for breast or cervical cancer.

Program Outcome Objectives

• Secure a 75 percent re-screening rate of women each year.
• By the year 2010, increase the percent of women 50-64 years of age who have had a clinical breast examination and mammogram to more than 80 percent.
• By the year 2010, increase the percent of women in the primary population who are 50-64 years of age who have had a clinical breast examination and a mammogram in the preceding 1 to 2 years to 60 percent, and a Pap test within the last year to 80 percent.
• Provide breast and cervical cancer screening services to minority, uninsured, and underinsured women with incomes up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
• Meet the objectives for cancer control outlined in Healthy People 2010 to reduce breast cancer deaths to no more than 22.3 per 100,000, and reduce deaths due to cervical cancer to no more than 2.0 per 100,000. Additionally, demonstrate a shift toward earlier stage of breast and cervical cancer diagnosis.

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