Catawba County News
Catawba County 101
Published: October 02, 2025
MAKING. LIVING. BETTER: Public Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP)
What is its mission/purpose?
BCCCP works to make sure women have access to regular, affordable breast and cervical cancer health screenings. Screenings are important because the earlier cancer is found and treated, the better the chance of survival and remission for the patient.
How do you achieve your mission – what services are offered?
Our BCCCP program offers clinical breast exams, screening mammograms, pap smears and HPV tests, and diagnostic procedures (mammograms, ultrasounds, colposcopies, breast and cervical biopsies) based on need as determined by our medical provider. If screening results are abnormal, medical consultations are ordered and if cancer is found then referrals are made for treatment.
Women who are enrolled in BCCCP and who are found to have cancer are eligible to receive treatment through a special form of Medicaid.
Who does this department serve?
BCCCP services are for women is available to women ages 40-64 who are uninsured, who are not covered by Medicare Part B or Medicaid and who have a household income below 250% of the federal poverty level. Other eligibility requirements apply so it is best to speak with a staff member of Catawba County Public Health to see if you qualify.
How and where are services delivered?
BCCCP is accessed through the Adult Health clinic at Catawba County Public Health. Women can schedule an appointment by calling (828) 695-4445. Women who qualify will be scheduled for a mammogram on the Catawba Valley Medical Center Mobile Mammogram Unit in the Catawba County Public Health parking lot when it is on site. The Catawba County Public Health building is located at 3070 11th Ave Dr SE, Hickory, NC 28602.
How many staff members are involved in delivering services?
There are several staff members that contribute to the BCCCP program including a Registered Nurse and Enhanced Role Registered Nurse. If a patient needs further assistance beyond the scope of the Adult Health clinic, they can request to connect with our Community Health Workers.
How does our community and/or organization benefit from these services?
Breast cancer affects women from all walks of life in Catawba County, but some groups of women experience higher mortality from the disease. From 2019-2023, non-Hispanic black women were more likely to die from breast cancer than any other group.
- From 2019-2023, there were 111 deaths from breast cancer per 100,000 women in Catawba County.
- From 2019-2023, there were 783 cases of breast cancer diagnosed per 100,000 women in Catawba County.
- The state is projecting that there will be 209 cases of breast cancer diagnosed and 25 breast cancer deaths in Catawba County this year.
- Data from the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/data/cancer.cfm
Please share anything unique or interesting about this program you would want people to know.
Catawba County Public Health staff donate to a fund throughout the year to help cover the cost of screenings for those who do not fit eligibility requirements but still require screenings.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it is a great time for women ages 40 and older to schedule their annual mammogram screening with their health care provider.
Any abnormal changes to your body should prompt you to schedule a screening appointment. Examples of this could be women who feel dense tissue in their breast during self-examinations or women who experience abnormal bleeding, especially when they are post-menopausal. If you or someone you know thinks you may qualify, don’t hesitate to reach out. The staff in our BCCCP are passionate about expanding access to cancer screenings and improving the quality of life for all women in our county.