Cervical cancer rally

"I'm five years cancer free on colon and eight years cancer free on breast cancer," explained survivor Francis Gilcrease.

 Mamagrams can detect breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment could be more effective and survival may be more likely, something Francis Gilcrease can attest to.

"I am a product of early screening, I was fortunate I had a good job, I had good retirement, good benefits and never missed a screening," she continued.

 Louisiana's breast and cervical cancer program is designed to help low-income, uninsured and underserved women have life-saving screening programs. Tricia Hawkins with the American Cancer Society says that may soon end.

"Lawmakers are at the state capitol and this program is up to be cut this year," said Hawkins. "So we're asking people to help save the program and it provides screening to under insured women ain rural parts of the state."

 Cancer survivors along with advocates signed this banner, hoping to restore funds for the program.

"Everyone has a voice and that voice can do a lot of things or good," said Hawkins. "The most important thing is to know your voice does matter."

 As more than six-hundred Louisiana women are expected to die from breast cancer this year, Gilcrease hopes legistlators pull the plug on their intentions before it's too late.

"If we cut it women are going to die for a lack of screening because if they don't have insurance and they are underinsured, they won't go get screened, Gilcrease concluded.