NORMAL -- When it comes to getting squeezed, McLean County's rates are embarrassingly low.

That's according to breast health advocates who aren't satisfied that McLean County's mammography rates -- 57 percent overall, lower among minority women -- are no better than the national average.

"The rates stink," said Barb Nathan, executive director of the Community Cancer Center in Normal.

Thus, she and other breast health advocates began an initiative called Pink Partners, a countywide, multiyear program of the cancer center to encourage women age 40 and older to pledge to each other to get a mammogram each year. Partners may be individuals, employers, churches, universities, women's athletics groups and sororities, Nathan said.

The initiative will find out why more women don't get mammograms and address those issues, said Jolene Clifford, cancer center breast health navigator. The cancer center will make speakers available to provide information to various women's groups on mammography, will work with mammography centers on later hours for mammograms and will inform women in need about grants to pay for mammograms, Clifford said.

Women who get mammograms will be given stickers that say "I did my part!" or "I've been squeezed! Have you?"

In addition, they may fill out a card after they get their mammogram. Cards will be placed in a monthly drawing for a gift.

The cancer center also is working with the local Multicultural Leadership Program -- an organization to involve minority populations in the community -- to increase the low mammography rates among Hispanic women.

"Women are at the center of the family," said Margarita Alvarez, a member of the leadership program and an agency business analyst at State Farm Insurance Cos. "We want them to see their kids grow up and to grow old with their husband."

"We were trying to raise the rates but they weren't going anywhere," Nathan said. "We decided that anything less than a countywide effort" would have little impact.

A survey by the cancer center of McLean County's four mammography centers shows 57 percent of eligible women age 40 and older got their annual mammogram to screen for breast cancer in 2008.

Nationally, 64 percent of eligible women had a mammogram in 2006 or 2007, the most recent data available, Nathan said. But she said the number is not directly comparable to the county rate because national data asks women if they have had a mammogram in the past two years; the county numbers are for the past year. A yearly mammogram for women 40 and older is recommended. The numbers are worse for minority populations (see chart).

There is no one reason why the rates are low but advocates have some ideas:

Fear

Some women are afraid a mammogram will hurt. Clifford said there is pressure as the breast is squeezed to get a good picture, but it lasts only a few seconds.

Some women also fear a breast cancer diagnosis because they think it's a death sentence. Clifford said the value of a mammogram is that cancer may be detected earlier when there are more treatment options and it is more likely that the breast will be preserved and that the woman will survive.

"Mammograms save lives," she said. "When breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the cure rate is 98 percent. If the cancer spreads to another organ, the cure rate is 26 percent."

Denial

Women with no family history of breast cancer may think they don't need a mammogram. But Clifford said all women are at risk of breast cancer, especially as they get older.

Time

Busy women - especially those with families - seldom put their health first, so getting a mammogram may be at the bottom of their priority list, Clifford said. But if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be there to take care of your family.

Access

Some women can't afford a mammogram, but the cancer center (309-451-8500) has information on financial assistance programs.

Some women don't know where to get a mammogram. That's why Pink Partners' handouts include information on the four mammography centers in McLean County.

"If we can increase the rates by 1 or 2 percent (in the first several months), how many lives can we save?" asked Gary Williams, a leadership program member and State Farm Life/Health manager. "Hopefully we can build those numbers and make mammography a part of lives of more women in McLean County."