Did you know mammograms can cut breast cancer deaths by as much as 1/3?  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so this is a good time to make sure you are taking care of this important issue.  The American Cancer Society recommends women aged 40 and older be screened for breast cancer with a mammogram once a year.  A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast and the best method to detect breast cancer early and treat it.

A focus on education has raised awareness about breast cancer in recent years, so more women are getting mammograms and the death rate has decreased.  However, low-income rural women are at a greater risk for dying from breast cancer because fewer low-income rural women have mammograms on a regular basis.  As women age, their chance of developing breast cancer increases.  This makes it even more important to have a regular mammogram.

There is good news for women in our area!  Goodall-Witcher Hospital is partnering with the Moncrief Cancer Institute to offer breast screening one time each month.  Most insurance is accepted, and fully funded mammograms are available for women without insurance.  The screening is open for women age 35 and older.  Call 800-405-7739 to schedule an appointment.

Don’t let fear or lack of access keep you from taking care of yourself or the women in your life.  For more information, contact Kate Whitney at the Extension Office.