Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP)
The Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) offers free breast exams, mammograms, Pap tests and pelvic exams to eligible women.
To be eligible for the Program, women must be:
- between the ages of 35 and 64
- live in Illinois
- without insurance
Sarah Bush Lincoln is the
lead agency for the East Central Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program and covers the following counties:
- Clark
- Coles
- Crawford
- Cumberland
- Douglas
- Edgar
- Effingham
- Jasper
- Moultrie
IBCCP is available in every county. If you do not live in one of these counties, please call the Women’s Health Line at 1-888-552-1282 to find out where you can enroll.
The FDA Office of Women’s
Health states that women should begin receiving annual mammograms at age 40 and
all women should be getting Pap tests by the time they are 21 years old.
Frequently asked questions:
Why are regular screenings
so important?
Except for skin cancers,
breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women. However, if it is detected while still in its earlier
stages, breast cancer can be successfully treated. Routine mammograms and
breast exams can detect cancer early and provide women with better treatment
options and results.
Cervical cancer also is treatable if detected early. There are often no noticeable symptoms, so it is important that women get screened regularly and have a Pap test. The test can find any abnormal changes that could turn into cancer
What is the difference between a breast exam and a mammogram?
- A clinical breast exam involves a visit to a provider’s office. Your provider will examine your breasts for any changes, such as lumps, knots, change in size or shape, nipple discharge, swelling, redness, dimpling, pain, etc.
- A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast that is used to evaluate and detect breast changes.
Why is it necessary to
have both the breast exam and a mammogram?
Often times a provider can
feel or see changes that a mammogram won’t pick up, likewise, a mammogram can
sometimes see things that a provider can’t. It is important to have both
examinations to make sure there are no major breast changes.
What if I am diagnosed
with cancer? Does IBCCP offer any treatment options?
Yes. Women who are enrolled
in the IBCCP and diagnosed with cancer through the program’s screenings and
tests are eligible to receive treatment benefits.
If a woman is not enrolled in the Illinois Breast and
Cervical Cancer Program but has been diagnosed with cancer, can she still
receive free treatment?
Yes,
women who meet IBCCP eligibility requirements but are diagnosed outside the
current IBCCP sites go directly into the treatment program. This gives women
more choices and also avoids penalizing women who did not know about the
program but who were screened and diagnosed by their doctor, community health
center or other health care facility.
What doctor/health care facility can I
use?
The East Central Illinois Breast and
Cervical Cancer Program is contracted with all SBL providers and Sarah Bush
Lincoln Health Center. Please call 1-800-331-1689 to see if your provider is
contracted with ECIBCCP, if not affiliated with SBL.
For more information on the Illinois Breast and
Cervical Cancer Program,
please contact Lisa Carlen, RN, at 1-800-331-1689.
You may also visit us at the IBCCP website.