Breast cancer awareness month: how Golden Strip residents can access early screenings close to home

October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and across Mauldin, Simpsonville, and Fountain Inn, healthcare providers and community leaders are reminding residents that the most powerful weapon against the disease remains unchanged: early detection.

With one in eight women in the United States expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, routine screenings can identify abnormalities years before physical symptoms appear, when treatment is most effective and least invasive. For residents living along the Interstate 385 corridor, accessing advanced 3D mammography no longer requires navigating traffic into downtown Greenville.

Screening Resources at a Glance

• Local Hospital Center: Prisma Health Hillcrest Hospital

  • Location: 729 SE Main St., Simpsonville, SC

  • Services: Comprehensive 3D digital mammography (tomosynthesis), diagnostic imaging, and ultrasound.

  • Scheduling: 864-522-9729 or online at prismahealth.org (No doctor’s order required for routine screenings for women age 40+).

• Regional Imaging Centers: Bon Secours St. Francis Health System

  • Scheduling: 864-675-4875 or via bonsecours.com (Self-referrals accepted for annual screenings).

• Mobile Screening Units: Both Prisma Health and Bon Secours operate mobile mammography coaches that visit Upstate employers, churches, and civic centers throughout October and November.

• Assistance for Uninsured Residents: The South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Best Chance Network provides free or low-cost breast and cervical cancer screenings for qualifying women. Call 1-800-450-4611 or visit scdph.gov.

3D Technology in Our Backyard

At Prisma Health Hillcrest Hospital in Simpsonville, breast imaging relies on digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography). Unlike traditional two-dimensional scans, 3D imaging captures multiple thin cross-sections of the breast. Radiologists can examine tissue layer by layer, significantly reducing false alarms and call-backs while improving detection rates in women with dense breast tissue.

Guidelines from the American College of Radiology and the American Cancer Society recommend that women at average risk begin annual screening mammograms at age 40. Women with a family history or identified genetic predispositions should speak with their primary care providers about beginning screenings earlier.

Breaking Down Financial and Logistical Barriers

For working parents and caregivers balancing full schedules across the Golden Strip, carving out hours for an appointment is often the biggest obstacle. Both major Upstate health systems now allow women 40 and older to self-schedule screening appointments directly—eliminating the need to visit a primary care physician first for a referral order.

Furthermore, mobile mammography coaches from both Prisma Health and Bon Secours frequently bring screening units directly into neighborhood parking lots and community hubs across southern Greenville County. For residents without health insurance coverage, the state-supported Best Chance Network works directly with local clinics and hospital networks to cover screening costs, ensuring financial hardship does not stand in the way of essential care.

Residents are encouraged to check with their local healthcare provider, review their screening timeline, or schedule an annual appointment today.