Reduced-rate mammograms at hospital through October

In a media release from Wrangell Medical Center, the hospital announced that for the month of October it will be discounting mammograms.

Nationally, October is

informally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month,

during which women are

encouraged to focus on this important healthcare issue. Outside of skin cancers, behind that affecting the lungs, breast

cancer is the second most common form of cancer among American women. According to the American Cancer Society, the average rate of risk over a lifetime is 12 percent, or one in eight women.

Death rates from female breast cancer have been dropping, particularly among women older than 50, overall by 39 percent from 1989 to 2015. The ACS attributes these decreases to finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments.

To encourage local women to get themselves screened, WMC will be discounting its mammograms by 30 percent, a savings of more than $200.

Screenings take less than 10 minutes, though participants should plan on 20 minutes to half an hour for the whole process. Women age 40 and older can self-request a screening mammogram by calling the WMC imaging department at 874-7128 to set up an appointment.

Ann Kramer, head of the hospital’s imaging department, explained the reduced rate is for screenings only. “If you have unusual lumps and bumps or any pain in the breast, then it is important to speak with a physician about getting a diagnostic mammogram,” she said in the release.

Hospital staff will also need the name of a preferred clinician to have results sent to. Results would be submitted within two weeks, with patients receiving a copy of the report with a cover letter for themselves.

“If your most recent mammogram was performed at another facility than WMC, we will need to send for those films and reports before scheduling you,” added Kramer. “Also, please don’t wear deodorant or heavy lotions – they may give a false reading.”

​Just as photos from different cameras make the same landscape look different, there are similar differences in mammography.

“Folks sometimes think

it is better to get mammograms from different places from one year to the next, but what is

essential to the person reading the mammogram is to have prior mammogram studies for comparison,” Kramer explained. “The radiologist is then comparing apples to apples when looking for differences between one year and the next.”

In addition to having an

annual screening mammogram, women can be proactive against the disease by performing monthly self examinations,

having clinical examinations, practicing healthy eating

habits and maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption and giving up tobacco. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has additional information at http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org about creating an early detection plan and more detailed information about breast cancer symptoms and types.