In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, South Georgia Medical Center is encouraging all eligible women to get their annual mammogram screening during the month of October and raising awareness of breast cancer prevention, screening, and treatment with its Pamper and Prevent campaign.
In its third year, Pamper and Prevent engages the community with local stories of breast cancer survivors while offering women the opportunity to enter to win a prize package and the ability to conveniently schedule their mammograms online.
Additionally, SGMC is hosting an array of awareness events and fundraisers during October which are also available on the site at sgmc.org/giveaway.
Breast cancer still remains one of the most common forms of cancer found in women in the United States. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
“Finding breast cancer early can really be the biggest lifesaver,” says Harvey Miller, MD, Chief Clinical Quality Director. “We encourage all women starting at the age of 40 to get their yearly mammogram.”
SGMC offers the Hologic Genius 3D mammogram, the newest technology that improves cancer detection and provides clearer images to radiologists. The 3D machine detects 20-65 percent more invasive breast cancer compared to a 2D mammogram alone and is reported to reduce callbacks to patients by 40 percent. This 3D imaging is particularly important for those who have dense breasts.
“We know getting a mammogram is not everyone’s favorite experience, but we’re going to do our best to make our patients as comfortable as possible,” says Dr. Miller.
The 3D mammogram is available at the SGMC Imaging Center and the SGMC Berrien Campus.
“We encourage everyone to check out the Pamper and Prevent site and read the stories of the remarkable women around us. Then if you are eligible for a mammogram, take 60 seconds to schedule yours and encourage someone you know to do the same,” says Emily Wetherington, Administrative Director of the Pearlman Cancer Center. “We want to increase awareness about breast cancer, but we also want to support and care for those who are always caring for everyone else.”
SGMC offers a comprehensive breast cancer program that includes imaging, surgery, and cancer treatment. SGMC’s Pearlman Cancer Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) and offers many of the latest cancer-fighting treatment options to include radiation therapy, advanced chemotherapy and biotherapy, surgical oncology, and clinical trials, including precision medicine trial and genetic counseling for cancer-causing genes. To learn more, visit sgmc.org.