Northwest Health Hosting “Pink Parties” to Encourage Breast Cancer Screening
9/27/2018
SPRINGDALE, Ark (September 28, 2018) – One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. And here in Arkansas, breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer for women.
To encourage more women to take action for their breast health, Northwest Health is hosting three educational events during October, which is annually recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The “Pink Parties” are being held on three of Northwest Health’s five campuses.
Thursday, October 4
4-7 pm at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital
603 North Progress Avenue, Siloam Springs
Thursday, October 11
5-7:30 pm at Northwest Breast Imaging Center at Willow Creek
5501 Willow Creek Drive, Suite 201, Johnson
Thursday, October 18
5-7:30 pm at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville
3000 Medical Center Parkway, Bentonville
Health screenings and a vendor fair, along with refreshments, are included in the free events. To RSVP for one of the Pink Parties for yourself or a group, email Northwest Health at: CommunityRelations@nw-health.com
Screening mammograms will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis. An order from a physician or qualified healthcare provider is not required, but the patient must provide a physician/provider name when an appointment is made. All mammogram reports will be sent to the physician/provider, and the patient is responsible for follow-up. Patients should check with their insurance provider to confirm coverage for a screening mammogram. For American College of Radiology recommendations, visit www.acr.org.
“Mammograms save lives,” said Dr. Christie Phelan, a board-certified and fellowship-trained breast radiologist, who is speaking at the Willow Creek event. She will show participants the difference between a 2-dimensional and a 3D mammogram. “Today, thanks to early detection and treatment advances, more women are surviving breast cancer and living longer, healthier lives.”
“The bottom line is, a majority of breast cancers can be treated successfully if found early,” said Breast Surgeon Dr. Christopher Menendez. “And the most effective way to detect breast cancer at an early, treatable stage is to have yearly mammograms starting at the age of 40, and to have regular clinical breast exams by a doctor or nurse.”
For women of average risk, the American College of Radiology recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40, with no upper age limit as long as the woman is in good health. Different guidelines apply to women at higher risk. A screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages.
The Northwest Breast Imaging Center at Willow Creek was the first in Northwest Arkansas to offer breast tomosynthesis, also called 3D mammography, to detect breast cancer. According to ACR.org, breast tomosynthesis (3D) has shown to be an advance over digital (2D) mammography, with higher cancer detection rates and fewer patient recalls for additional testing.
Breast tomosynthesis uses high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into very thin layers or “slices,” producing a 3D mammogram. The x-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple breast images in seconds. A computer produces a 3D image of the patient’s breast tissue in one-millimeter layers. This allows radiologists to examine fine details in the breast tissue one layer at a time, giving them the ability to see breast tissue in detail.
Call (479) 757-4135 to schedule a mammogram at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville or Northwest Breast Imaging Center at Willow Creek. Call (479) 215-3420 to schedule a mammogram at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital.
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