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[MJ]

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian American Cultural Association, Inc (AACA),
US Sponsor of Armenian American Mammography University Center (AAMUC)
Contact: Ruth Bedevian <Rbedevian@hotmail.com>
1300 Crystal Drive #1504
Arlington, VA 22202
Tel: 703-416-2555
Fax: 703-416-2557
Email: usaaca@aol.com

`The Mammography Center's Mission is to save, prolong, and improve the lives of women in Armenia, through the early detection of breast cancer.'

FAIR LAWN, NJ
ST. LEON WOMEN'S GUILD TO HOST ARMENIAN AMERICAN MAMMOGRAPHY UNIVERSITY
CENTER CO-FOUNDERS - APRIL 19

-by Ruth Bedevian

Women's lives in Armenia are being saved by early detection of breast cancer. In Armenia, a former soviet republic, this amounts to a miracle because up until 4 years ago there was no modern medical technology to accurately diagnose this leading cause of cancer deaths!

"Breast Cancer is not a woman's issue; breast cancer is a human issue that affects all." These are the words of US Ambassador to Armenia, Michael Lemmon, when he addressed the participants at the 4th Annual Health Walk in Yerevan, Armenia October 7, 2000. Breast Cancer is the leading cause of
cancer deaths among women in Armenia.

On Thursday, April 19, at 7:30 PM, the Armenian American Mammography University Center (AAMUC) will be the focus of guest speakers and co-founders, the Honorable Hranush Hakopian (woman member of the Armenian Parliament) and Rita Balian, CEO of the AAMUC and the founding President of
AACA (Armenian American Cultural Association); the AACA is the sponsoring
organization of the AAMUC and the entity to which tax deductible donations may be made to the AAMUC. (The organization's overhead expenses have not exceeded 3 percent of the total of grass roots fundraising since its
inception 4 years ago.)

The St. Leon Women's Guild is pleased to host the community to hear firsthand of the progress and future plans directly from the co-founders; they will share achievements, current initiatives and future plans.
Refreshments will be served following an informal questions and answer session. As "breast cancer is not a woman's issue, but a human issue" men as well as women are urged to come, learn, be inspired and give hope to the women of Armenia.

Up until 1997, Armenian women did not have access to modern mammography screening; women were dying of cancer, learning too late that their cancer started in their breast. The establishment of the Armenian American Mammography University Center was a response to the critical need for accurate and early detection.

The AAMUC is heralded by the American medical community, American diplomats;
and US government officials have praised it as a exemplary humanitarian project for its state-of-the-art technology, accountability and cost-effectiveness. "Armenia has the potential to become the future health
care center of the entire Caucasus Region. The Mammography Center exemplifies this potential." Peter Tomsen, former US Ambassador to Armenia stated as early as 1998.

The Armenian American Mammography University Center is the first of its kind in the entire former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe Until the AAMUC opened its doors, the only diagnostic tools available to detect breast cancer were two machines built in the 1960s. They were obsolete, inaccurate, unreliable, producing unacceptable levels of radiation and often compelling surgeons to
perform radical mastectomies because the films could not properly distinguish between cancerous and benign conditions.In the four years since the AAMUC has begun its work, 22,000 women have been examined. Nearly 600
families have received treatment through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of these methods. This miracle has happened due to grassroots fundraising, corporate donations of medical equipment, US Government participation, volunteer medical/professional services and the tireless, steadfast, passionate perseverance of its co-founders, Rita Balian,
Honorable Hranush Hakopian. The work continues.

To reach St. Leon Community Center take Route 4 WEST to the Saddle River Road exit. Drive one mile north. Admission is free. Parking is ample.