Women offered extra incentive to have mammogram as part of World Cancer Day

   PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Having a mammogram at TAMC Tuesday, Feb. 4 will pay in more ways than one as the hospital, in partnership with the Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) and Daigle Oil Co. (DOC), will give gas to mammogram recipients — more specifically, a CITGO gas card — in recognition of World Cancer Day.
Mammograms help to save lives and officials with TAMC, ACAP and DOC think that World Cancer Day, a global event designed to raise the awareness of cancer, its prevention, detection and treatment, is a good day to stress the importance of having regular mammograms. The significance of the day makes it the perfect opportunity to promote the idea of early detection and to bring local awareness to the importance of having mammograms as a crucial step in the fight against breast cancer.
“Early detection means early treatment and improving a woman’s chances of beating the disease. It may also mean more treatment options with a small cancer, and treatments at an earlier stage will most likely have fewer side effects,” said TAMC’s Lead Mammographer Lana McNamee, RT (R)(M).
“Cancer is the number-two cause of death in Americans, with breast cancer rating number three. In the United States in 2014, it is projected that there will be 120.9 women diagnosed with breast cancer out of every 100,000 — and 127 out of 100,000 in Maine,” said ACAP Resource Developer Kimberly Smith. “Of those, it is projected that 21 per 100,000 will die from breast cancer in both the U.S. and Maine. The best defense is to get screened, i.e., have a mammogram.”
Each person receiving a mammogram at TAMC Feb. 4 will receive a $20 CITGO gas card, half of which ACAP will purchase with grant monies it received through its Healthy Aroostook program, and the other half of which comes in the form of matching funds courtesy of DOC.
“It is hoped that this event will help raise local awareness and increase the number of women getting mammograms and working on healthier lifestyles with the ultimate goal of reducing the cancer rate,” said ACAP Community Education Specialist Jo-Ellen Kelley.
This is the first time ACAP and TAMC have come together for a World Cancer Day event. Bringing DOC on board as a third partner was a logical decision given that company’s reputation in the community for supporting cancer efforts.
“As a ‘pink’ company promoting and advocating breast cancer awareness and education, many of our messages in the form of advertisements and public service announcements encourage women to get their mammograms; being asked to support ACAP and ultimately the women receiving mammograms on World Cancer Day at TAMC reinforces our efforts in promoting this great cause,” said Sonya Dechene LeBoeuf, marketing manager at DOC.
The World Cancer Day event at TAMC will stress the importance of early detection, which increases the chances of a woman with breast cancer living an additional five years by 98 percent. There are several things a woman should do to increase the chances of early detection, including annual exams by a provider, monthly self-exams, a first screening mammogram by age 40 and follow-up mammograms every one to two years for women between the ages of 40 and 49, as well as yearly after age 50.
“Women need to check with their provider for guidance. If there is a strong family history of breast cancer, the mammogram should be at an earlier age. Generally women should start at the age of 40 and continue until the age of 74, and if in good health, continuing 10 more years,” said McNamee.
McNamee says she hopes the gas cards will help to offset the cost of traveling to the hospital, and therefore encourage those who may have put off the procedure to take advantage of the World Cancer Day event.
Women interested in scheduling a mammogram should talk to their provider, who will help them schedule an appointment.