Linda Tonner was 60 years old when she felt a nagging pain in her breast. She was divorced, made very little money at her job, and didn't have health insurance.

Her daughter suggested Planned Parenthood. Linda was confused. Wasn't Planned Parenthood for young, poor women who needed birth control? Her daughter told her that Planned Parenthood was there for anyone who needed health care, so Linda made an appointment.

The Planned Parenthood health care provider examined Linda, and confirmed that there was a tiny lump in her breast. Planned Parenthood staff worked with Linda on the spot to make sure she had all of the proper paperwork completed so that she could be admitted to the hospital without insurance.

After a lumpectomy and radiation, Linda has now been in remission for nine years.

Nationwide, more than 850 Planned Parenthood health centers provide a wide range of reproductive health care to millions of women like Linda every year. The vast majority, more than 90 percent, of this health care is preventive -- and includes contraception, cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and immunizations.

Essential community providers like Planned Parenthood health centers are critical to making health care affordable and accessible in their communities. We must ensure that these community health care providers are included in health care reform -- to safeguard access for current patients and to ensure that newly insured women and families can access these trusted providers close to home.

Have you visited a Planned Parenthood health center recently? Sharing your story helps Planned Parenthood represent you, and ensure that women are included in health care reform. We can't do it without you! Tell us your story in the comments.

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