If you see a lot of pink wherever you go this month, it's to remind you that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world, and makes up 30 percent of new cancer cases in the United States. At Lake Chelan Health, they've made strides in making screenings for breast cancer easier for staff and patients. And it's all due to a new chair the hospital received last year as a gift from the hospital's Guild B. It's a Vela Mammography Chair. Susan Mendoza is the hospital's Radiologic Technician:
According to Vela's website, the chair is clinically designed to provide the most optimal working conditions for the mammographer and contribute to higher image quality. Mendoza says they were lucky in getting the chair when they did:
The money for the chair was raised through Guild B's annual “Paint the Town Pink” event held at Sorrento's restaurant. This year's event was held last week, and Lake Chelan Health Spokesman Augustin Benegas says more than 22-thousand dollars was raised:
And back to mammograms, if you notice symptoms, go to your physician and have a mammogram scheduled; if you're over 40 and don't have any symptoms but are concerned anyway, you can call lake Chelan Health and schedule a mammogram, their number is 509-682-6130, Mendoza says they can get you in usually in a week or two, and even sooner for screenings.
And guys, you need to check yourself out as well, because men can get breast cancer too.