news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Full-price mammograms can cost $100 . A chair massage , half as much. A cholesterol screening, $45.

Getting these and other services by way of the National Women’s Check-up  Day  at the Hayes-Taylor YMCA  on Monday : not even a dime.

The Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency  has a federal grant to offset the cost of a day of services for women, including glaucoma and carpal tunnel screenings and HIV tests with results in 20 minutes .Stress management assessment, eyebrow arching and those chair massages are also available.

“It’s a day for the women to just celebrate themselves, and we offer them an opportunity to just see the importance and the impact that good health care has on the way they feel,” said Diane Robinson of the Piedmont agency.

The group will have educators on hand to offer a range of wellness and health-related topics.

“Of course, taking care of the physical body is very important, but we also like to look nice as well,” she said. “It helps with our self-confidence and self-esteem.”

Last year, 247 women  took part. Their reasons included not being able to afford it otherwise and taking advantage of having the services all in one place.

The YMCA also will offer free classes that day, including water aerobics, Robinson said.

The screenings for breast cancer and cervical cancer, for example, could lead to referrals for actual mammograms and cervical cancer tests, some of which could be paid for through scholarships.

Other test results, such as glaucoma, could be referred out as well.

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com