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Sarah Bush Lincoln Alerts

Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP)

The Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) offers free breast exams, mammograms, Pap tests and pelvic exams to eligible women.

To be eligible for the Program, women must be:

  • between the ages of 35 and 64
  • live in Illinois
  • without insurance

Prairie State Women's Health is a lead agency for the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer program covering 28 counties including the following:

  • Clark
  • Coles
  • Crawford
  • Cumberland
  • Douglas
  • Edgar
  • Effingham
  • Jasper
  • Moultrie

IBCCP is available in every county. If you do not live in one of these counties, please call the Women’s Health Line at 1-888-522-1282 to find out where you can enroll.

The FDA Office of Women’s Health states that women should begin receiving annual mammograms at age 40 and all women should be getting Pap tests by the time they are 21 years old.

Frequently asked questions:

Why are regular screenings so important?
Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women. However, if it is detected while still in its earlier stages, breast cancer can be successfully treated. Routine mammograms and breast exams can detect cancer early and provide women with better treatment options and results.

Cervical cancer also is treatable if detected early. There are often no noticeable symptoms, so it is important that women get screened regularly and have a Pap test. The test can find any abnormal changes that could turn into cancer

What is the difference between a breast exam and a mammogram?

  • A clinical breast exam involves a visit to a provider’s office. Your provider will examine your breasts for any changes, such as lumps, knots, change in size or shape, nipple discharge, swelling, redness, dimpling, pain, etc.  
  • A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast that is used to evaluate and detect breast changes.

Why is it necessary to have both the breast exam and a mammogram?
Often times a provider can feel or see changes that a mammogram won’t pick up, likewise, a mammogram can sometimes see things that a provider can’t. It is important to have both examinations to make sure there are no major breast changes.

What if I am diagnosed with cancer? Does IBCCP offer any treatment options?
Yes. Women who are enrolled in the IBCCP and diagnosed with cancer through the program’s screenings and tests are eligible to receive treatment benefits.

If a woman is not enrolled in the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program but has been diagnosed with cancer, can she still receive free treatment?  
Yes, women who meet IBCCP eligibility requirements but are diagnosed outside the current IBCCP sites go directly into the treatment program. This gives women more choices and also avoids penalizing women who did not know about the program but who were screened and diagnosed by their doctor, community health center or other health care facility.

What doctor/health care facility can I use?
The Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program is contracted with all SBL providers and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Please call 1-800-721-7734 to see if your provider is contracted with IBCCP, if not affiliated with SBL.

For more information on the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program,
please contact:

Montgomery County Health Department
Prairie State Women’s Health
Shannon Brauer (Nurse Coordinator)
11191 Illinois Route 185
Hillsboro, IL 62049
1-800-721-7734
1-217-532-2001

You may also visit us at the IBCCP website.