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Las Colinas inmates in Santee receive free mammograms

The process only takes 15 minutes, but for some inmates, it's life changing.

Dozens of female inmates at Las Colinas Detention Center in Santee received free mammograms on Monday. La Maestra is an organization that provides healthcare for the community.  The organization brings mammogram buses to the jail twice a month.

The process only takes 15 minutes, but for some inmates, it's life-changing.

48-year-old inmate Teresa Exline admits that her health hasn't always been her top priority. She received her first mammogram on Monday.

"With a lot of homelessness and substance abuse and mental health, a lot of times women don't go do those kinds of things,” said Exline.

Cynthia Kaser with La Maestra says their partnership with the San Diego Sheriff's office started two years ago. Since then, about 500 female inmates have gotten a mammogram.

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"All people matter regardless of their circumstances and our pledge and our mission has always been to serve the underserved population,” said Kaser.

Women are offered pap smears as well. 

In some cases, cancer has been detected. One woman already had stage 4 breast cancer by the time La Maestra stepped in.

Inmates 40 years and older are eligible, unless a jail doctor recommends one be done earlier.

If something abnormal is detected, the inmate receives proper treatment, as well as follow up care, even after she's released from custody.

Inmate Alicia Abungan says the experience has been eye-opening - one she and others will carry with them for years to come, especially when you consider more than 42,000 women and men in the U.S. will die from breast cancer this year alone. 

"When Maestra came here, I realized that I didn't feel like I was incarcerated,” said Abungan. “I actually felt like I was at a clinic receiving actual services from people who actually care about me."

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