And what if you discover that you don’t meet the income guidelines for the NBCCEDP? Your first step should still be to visit or call your local hospital’s social services department. Once you reach social services, explain your situation; hopefully the social worker there can point you in the right direction. Usually hospitals have financial resources for women in your situation. If you need a mammogram, there are often non-profit-funded programs that fund free (or low-cost) mammograms.

But what if you get that free mammogram, and find you need treatment, but you don’t have health insurance, and you don’t qualify for Medicaid under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act? And your hospital social workers aren’t able to offer you much help?

Then your next step is the American Cancer Society, the nationwide, community-based health organization whose mission covers all aspects of cancer, including prevention, care, research, education, advocacy, and service. Go to cancer.org and type your zip code into the box at the upper right to find the ACS office nearest you.

Here's a little-known fact: Hospitals that receive construction funds theough the Department of Health and Human Services' Hill-Burton program are required by law to provide a variety of free and/or reduced-cost services to prospective patients who can't afford to pay for hospitalization. There are 203 such hospitals scattered throughout 44 states. Take a look at the list of hospitals, and read about the program at the Health Resources and Services Administation Web site.

Finally, here are four other organizations you may find useful:

The HealthWell Foundation® is a non-profit organization that addresses “the needs of individuals who cannot afford their insurance copayments, premiums, coinsurance, or other out-of-pocket health care costs.”

The Chronic Disease Fund provides financial assistance around medications for breast cancer patients.

CancerCare, Inc. offers a limited amount of direct financial assistance but, more important, provides links to an array of cancer resources, both national and local.

CFAC, the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition, helps cancer patients manage their financial challenges. Interestingly, you can specify what kind of cancer you have (e.g., breast cancer); as well as what type of help you need (drugs, transportation, medical treatment, housing, etc.)

If you’re a financially challenged women worried about breast cancer, let your fingers do the walking—through these Web sites.