The CAP Foundation and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation approximately 360,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024.

While pathologists may not directly conduct mammograms, the CAP Foundation helps over 600 medically underserved patients a year access diagnostic medicine to screen for both breast and cervical cancer via its See, Test & Treat program.

Through See, Test & Treat, the CAP Foundation works with hospitals and other health care institutions across the United States to make a real impact on health equity through pathologist-led events that provide cancer screening to under- and uninsured patients along with other health and social services.

Impact at a Glance
See, Test & Treat has screened almost 8,500 patients between 2011 and 2023 and has referred hundreds for follow-up care.

• These patients are in medically underserved areas and 77% are uninsured while 9% are underinsured.
• 54% of patients have low proficiency speaking English—See, Test & Treat provides translators and other culturally appropriate services to make patients feel comfortable.
• Out of patients surveyed between 2019 and 2023: 90% felt more comfortable seeing a doctor after See, Test & Treat while 88% were more confident they would seek annual medical exams and 90% understood how often they need to be screened for cervical and breast cancer.

The CAP Foundation also provides dozens of other awards and grants that provide leadership, research, and educational opportunities for pathologists to help ensure the best care for patients. Learn more on the Foundation “What We Fund” page.

Check out more CAP and Foundation resources on this topic below.

Resources for Breast Cancer Awareness
Ask a Pathologist: Breast Cancer
CAP Foundation board director, Carey August, MD, FCAP, helps cut through the confusion surrounding breast cancer screening, HER2 testing, diagnosis, and treatment options in this series of videos.

See, Test & Treat: three little words that are making a huge impact in early detection
Journalist Katie Couric sits down with CAP Foundation President Eva Wojcik, MD, FCAP, and Linda Goler Blount, president and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, to discuss breast and cervical cancer, health equity, and much more.

Breast Cancer Survivor Reflects on See, Test & Treat
Learn how 47-year-old Diane Duggan’s ductal breast cancer was caught early at a Boston-area See, Test & Treat program.