October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is bringing attention to the importance of mammograms.
Cindy Martin, director of Women’s Services, said that about 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
“Early detection is one of the most effective weapons in the fight against this disease,” Martin said.
Martin said that coming in and getting a screening mammogram is one of the best ways to prevent breast cancer.
OSF is hosting walk-in Wednesdays, for women who are 40 or older, to come in and get a mammogram without an appointment.
“We’ve made great strides in identifying and [the] diagnosis of breast cancer,” Martin said. “The earlier you do detect that, the better [the] outcome for the women in our community and surrounding areas as well.”
Another method of breast cancer prevention is a self breast exam for women.
For the entire month of October, a pink cancer awareness ribbon will shine on the west side of the hospital.
