It can be difficult for many of us to remember that October is the first full month of fall, especially when what we most often see is a wash of pink, not the yellow, orange and red from changing leaves. It can feel like every business, product, brand, sports team, advertisement and TV show becomes a platform for promoting Breast Cancer Awareness month. The color and ribbon have become synonymous with October, but when was the last time these symbols actually made you stop and think of an individual person – someone who is fighting the disease or the impact early detection can make.
At Wake Radiology, we admit that during October, you’ll see us make a big deal out of getting your annual screening mammogram and more pink that normal in our offices. You’ll also notice that we don’t neatly tuck breast cancer awareness, specifically prevention and early detection, into one month. We work every month, every week and every day to make sure that pink isn’t pointless.
Here’s why…
- 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in her life. If we only consider women who live inside Raleigh’s city limits, just over 26,000 of them will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, subsequent only to skin cancer.
- About 85% of all breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.
- A screening mammogram, especially a 3D mammogram, is the single best tool we have for detecting breast cancer when it’s small and easiest to treat.
Wake Radiology is proud to be the Triangle’s leader in 3D mammography. We believe in this revolutionary advancement and have invested heavily in this technology as well as in training for our certified mammography technologists and radiologists who specialize in breast imaging.
3D mammography:
- Helps our radiologists detect breast cancer at its earliest possible stage
- Offers greater detail and clarity of breast tissue regardless of a patient’s age or breast density
- Identifies more, smaller invasive cancers earlier than ever before
- Provides peace of mind for patients
So this October, we encourage you to not let pink be pointless. Let it drive you to having a mammogram during the next 12 months. And, right now, when you make that pledge, you could win roses for a year.
- Make the rose pledge to have your annual screening mammogram and enter to win roses for a year.
- Encourage all of the women you know who are 40 and over to make the rose pledge and have their annual screening mammogram, too.
- Visit the Flower & Garden Show at the NC State Fair October 12-22, 2017. You’ll see thousands of beautiful roses and find out more about 3D mammography. (We’re proud to sponsor this event this year!)
- See how we used a simple rose to show the difference between a 2D and 3D mammogram.
- Many major insurance companies are now covering 3D mammography. We always recommend you contact your insurance company and employer to verify your policy covers the 3D portion of your mammogram. If they do not, discuss the importance of the exam and advocate for it to be added to your coverage.
This October and every month of the year, all of us at Wake Radiology are committed to the early detection of breast cancer. We’re also committed to helping women know more about their breast health and 3D mammography. To request a screening appointment at one of our accredited Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence located throughout the Triangle, complete an appointment request form online or call our scheduling team at 919.232.4700.