October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there isn’t one person who has not been affected in some way by this disease. Cancer doesn’t discriminate among its victims and whether we have had it ourselves, or have had a family member or friend who’s battled it, we need to realize the importance of early detection and the need for all women to become informed on this life-threatening disease.
“This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we really want to stress the importance of getting a mammogram,” said Stacy Brawner, Director of Community Outreach & Volunteer Services at Macon Community Hospital, in Lafayette. “We have digital mammography at the hospital and people are really taking advantage of it, rather than driving out of town for the screening. And when it comes to breast health, we believe early detection is the key!”
The digital mammography system is not only faster than film-based mammography, this powerful technology also delivers highly detailed images for a more accurate and timely diagnosis.
“If it’s time for your yearly mammogram, you can just call Macon Community Hospital at 615-666-2147 and schedule an appointment,” continued Stacy. “And if you don’t have any insurance, you can get the screening done for $90.00.”
Women can choose to start screenings at age 40 to 44 if they wish, and women 45 to 54 should get a mammogram every year. Women age 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every two years or continue a yearly screening. “If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, you may need to schedule a mammogram before you reach 40,” said Stacy.
“This is an easy procedure,” said Mammographer Kaylee Smith, “and we’ve had people say when they’re getting ready to leave, ‘if I’d known it was this easy to get a mammogram, I would have done it before now.”
“We have a digital machine, and when we take the image, it pops up on the screen and we can see it,” explained Kaylee. “And if we need to do another image for whatever reasons, it’s right in front of us and we go from there. After we get the results, we send everyone a letter.”
If you schedule your mammogram in the month of October you will get a free breast cancer awareness t-shirt. “So go ahead and get those mammograms scheduled,” said Stacy Brawner.
Macon Community Hospital CEO, Thomas Kidd added, “Doctors are having greater and greater success treating breast cancer, especially if it’s caught early. When it comes to all aspects of women’s health, our hospital and team of providers have the expertise, the resources and the screening technology to help you stay healthy.”
