Breast cancer, the leading cost driver in oncology, poses formidable financial challenges for patients and healthcare providers alike. In response, Cigna Healthcare is prioritizing improved patient outcomes and cost management through partnerships and tailored support initiatives. At the heart of this strategy is Cigna’s collaboration with the Know Your Lemons Foundation, a partnership dedicated to elevating awareness and empowering individuals with essential knowledge about breast health.
For Margaux Currie, senior director of Commercial Medical Clinical Solutions and Strategy at Cigna, this mission has taken on a profound personal significance. At 39, while preparing for a concert, she discovered a lump in her chest, which led to a diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer. “I always assumed this was something I’d never have to worry about,” Currie told PYMNTS.
Despite a healthy lifestyle, no family history, and a negative BRCA test, Currie faced a harsh reality. She immediately started chemotherapy and eventually underwent a double mastectomy and radiation treatment and will be on maintenance therapy for 10 years.
This experience not only deepened her understanding of the challenges patients face but fueled her commitment to leading initiatives that empower others through education and support. Currie spearheaded initiatives at Cigna aimed at offering customized support for patients. To address these varied needs, Cigna implemented key strategies:
In an interview with PYMNTS, Shannon Olson, VP of U.S. Employer Strategy and Core Solutions for Cigna Healthcare, explained the “main goal of our recent breast cancer campaigns and partnerships — like the one we now have with Know Your Lemons — is about improving customer outcomes and support for people with breast cancer and those who are at risk. This ultimately helps manage costs because customers are then armed with the right information to take control of their health in the most effective ways, be it preventive or after a diagnosis.”
Cigna recognized a significant gap in breast health awareness, noting that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, with 85% having no family history. To address this, Cigna partnered with the Know Your Lemons Foundation to launch a breast health awareness campaign for its commercial clients. The initiative features a recorded webinar on breast health and customizable email templates for employers, all at no cost. Participants also receive a 10% discount on Know Your Lemons merchandise to encourage app engagement.
“And what is most compelling is this program works,” Olson explained. “Studies have found up to a 24% increase in mammograms. The use of lemons normalizes breast health among families, sexes, and friends so that important messages of action are delivered.”
This success underscores the role of organizations like the Know Your Lemons Foundation, whose CEO, Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont, explained how her organization complements Cigna’s efforts to elevate breast cancer awareness and education.
“The Know Your Lemons app isn’t just for those directly affected by breast cancer — it’s also designed to support caregivers and family members,” Ellsworth Beaumont told PYMNTS. “We include sections that help loved ones understand what breast cancer is, how to recognize symptoms, and how they can support their person emotionally and practically. By educating both the patient and their support system, the app fosters a shared understanding and makes it easier to navigate the healthcare journey together.”
The app simplifies breast health education, using imagery like its signature lemons to illustrate the 12 signs of breast cancer. Ellsworth Beaumont noted that it guides users through self-exams, sends personalized reminders, and offers information on risk factors and screening. Feedback has been “incredibly positive,” with users feeling more confident in self-exams. The foundation measures effectiveness by tracking engagement with features and educational modules.
“What’s most rewarding are the stories from users who say they caught their cancer early thanks to what they learned in the app,” Ellsworth Beaumont added.
As Cigna marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it underscores its commitment to supporting those affected by the disease while Currie’s leadership has infused a personal touch into these initiatives.
Survivors have shared, Olson said, that “the most difficult part is immediately following diagnosis, knowing you have cancer and needing to wait to start treatment or surgery,” with this anxiety potentially leading to unnecessary ER visits and high costs. Cigna helps alleviate this by offering behavioral health support right after diagnosis, helping patients manage anxiety, and avoid additional treatments.
Cigna’s approach prioritizes community support as well, believing patients fare better with caregiver backing. In 2025, the company plans to launch a digital platform featuring videos from survivors sharing their experiences. “Getting through treatment can be as much a mental challenge as it is physical,” Olson stated. “Providing the right support helps improve outcomes.”
We get a lot of press releases here at PYMNTS. We consider all of them, and some are more newsworthy than others. But this one really got our attention. This past week, Diebold Nixdorf made headlines with its announcement of successfully installing two new automated teller machines (ATMs) at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Station in Antarctica. This achievement marks a significant milestone in banking accessibility, to be sure. We would like to meet the crew that installed them. We’d also like to know why they needed two. Was there a line at the first one? More to come on that.
According to Diebold, McMurdo Station is Antarctica’s largest research and logistics hub, supporting a fluctuating population that ranges from fewer than 200 residents during the winter months to up to 1,100 individuals during the summer (October through February). The presence of these ATMs is crucial, it says, as the next closest banking facilities are thousands of miles away, making them the only ATMs on the entire continent. How’s that for a value proposition?
The DN Series ATMs are designed for always-on availability. And why do they need two? One ATM is actively in use, while the second serves as a backup for spare parts, ensuring uninterrupted service in this isolated area. These machines are connected to the DN AllConnect Data Engine, which leverages Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor their performance. A dedicated team continuously aggregates and analyzes technical data to identify potential issues, enabling remote diagnostics and repairs. The ATM can be maintained by trained staff at NSF McMurdo Station, or the Diebold Nixdorf service team can remotely guide them through the repair process.
Anyway, it got us thinking. Are there other surprising ATMs in extreme locations? Well, of course, there are. Here’s a sampling of what we found.
At an altitude of about 5,364 meters (17,600 feet), the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal is another unexpected place to find an ATM. Although it’s not a permanent fixture and is often set up seasonally, it caters to climbers and trekkers who need cash for local transactions. This temporary ATM service underscores the adaptability of banking services in extreme environments.
In some parts of the Amazon rainforest, particularly in Brazil and Peru, ATMs can be found in small villages and towns. These machines are vital for local communities, providing access to cash in areas where digital payment options might be limited. The presence of ATMs here demonstrates how banking services can reach even the most remote communities.
Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Nagqu is home to one of the highest ATMs in the world. This region is very remote, with limited infrastructure, making the presence of an ATM a notable example of banking accessibility in extreme environments.
In the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu) off the coast of Jakarta, Indonesia, there’s a floating ATM. This unique ATM serves the local community and tourists on the islands, demonstrating how banking services can adapt to isolated marine environments.
Longyearbyen, the administrative center of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, boasts the most northerly ATM. This location is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth, with limited access to mainland Norway, making the ATM a vital service for residents and visitors.
On a more serious note, the installation of ATMs in places like Antarctica and other remote locations highlights the evolving nature of banking technology. With advancements in IoT, AI and remote diagnostics, it’s becoming increasingly feasible to provide banking services in areas previously considered inaccessible. As we look to the future, it will be interesting to see where else ATMs might appear. Whether it’s on a remote island, at the top of a mountain or even in space, the ability to access cash is becoming more universal than ever. And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll see an ATM on Mars, serving the first interplanetary travelers.
For now, the presence of ATMs in unexpected places reminds us that banking is not just about transactions; it’s about connecting people and communities across the globe, no matter how remote they might be.
