Published: October 29, 2009 12:52 pm      

October is 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October marks the 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month grew out of the determination of former first lady Betty Ford, a breast cancer survivor, and her daughter, Susan Ford Bales. Their interest in raising awareness of how breast cancer screenings help to save lives has led to this annual event.

Cumberland Medical Center, along with Cumberland Radiological Group, PC, will observe National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October with two invitations to the women of the community.

Sometime during the week of Oct. 26-30, women are encouraged to see their family physician and ask for a physician order for a screening mammogram. During this same week, call the CMC Medical Imaging Department, at 459-7103, and be scheduled for a screening mammogram.

CMC and Cumberland Radiological Group, PC, will do the screening mammogram (with a physician’s order) for a total charge of $70 if a woman has no prior history of breast related disease, and is 40 years of age or older. CMC will charge $35 and Cumberland Radiological Group will charge $35. Also, during the same week, if a woman has no prior history of breast related disease, is 40 years of age or older, and has never had a screening mammogram, CMC will, for this week only (with a physician's order), schedule a screening mammogram free of charge.

Mammograms will be available at three convenient locations: the hospital; the CMC Outpatient Imaging Center, on Hayes Street; and Cumberland Medical Center at Fairfield Glade.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, after skin cancer. It is also the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women (lung cancer is the first). The American Cancer Society estimates that over 180,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States in 2009. There will be about 2,030 new cases of breast cancer found in men in 2009. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening mammography for women 40 years of age and older. The best protection is early detection.

All three mammography facilities are accredited by the American College of Radiology and the Food and Drug Administration. CMC also has annual American College of Radiology/Mammography Quality Standards Act mammography quality control/quality assurance evaluations conducted by outside consultants — Radiological Physics Associates of Nashville.

All technologists performing mammography procedures at CMC must be certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Additionally, CMC mammography technologists must pass a specialty certification test in mammography administered by the ARRT and have five continuing education hours specific to mammography on an annual basis.

As part of the CMC's ACR and FDA certification, all technologists, equipment (processors, xray machines, etc.) and daily quality control measures are inspected and rated annually.

All five of the radiologists at CMC are board-certified by the American College of Radiology and interpret an average of 100 mammograms each per month. Quality control measures include random double readings or interpretations by two or more radiologists on a percentage of all mammograms.

Mammograms are an important part of a woman's total healthcare plan and CMC and Cumberland Radiological Group, PC, are committed to providing this invaluable service to the community.

Call 459-7103 to schedule a screening mammogram.