After losing her insurance when she was laid off from her job, Frances Ruiz was prepared to skip her annual mammogram until she saw an ad from Moncrief Cancer Institute.

Moncrief provides free mammograms for women without insurance, and those who qualify, thanks to funding from Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, Susan G. Komen® Greater Fort Worth, Susan G. Komen® North & West Texas, Susan G. Komen® Greater Central and East Texas, and Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Frances’ mammogram detected an abnormality; and after a biopsy, which was also funded through Moncrief, it was determined that she had stage 1 breast cancer. Moncrief’s nurse navigators helped guide her from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

Today, Frances is cancer-free and an advocate for early detection.

“I would not be here had it not been for Moncrief,” Frances said. “Thank you for offering free mammograms and saving my life.”