Paint the Town Pink not about a town or pink

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Jana Mathia, Whitman County Gazette | Oct 01, 20200

COLFAX—Oct. 1 marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Normally, this would means events to raise awareness and money for a special fund for breast health services. With those events canceled, the public can still donate and help local women in early detection of the second most common cancer in women. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. While survival rates for breast cancer are now high, due to the blood and lymph flow through the breast tissue, cancer in the breast can spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain and lung. Like cancer of the prostate, early detection is important to prevent cancer from spreading to the rest of the body.

Since 2017, Whitman Hospital and Medical Center have partnered with Every Woman Can through the Paint the Town Pink association to raise awareness and funds which help local woman receive breast health services including mammograms and biopsy. Nearly $11,000 has been raised to pay for those services at WHMC, much through events such as the Paint the Town Pink Golf Tournament. Due to the pandemic, all events are canceled this year.

Just because the fundraising is gone does not mean the need is gone. Since 2015, when the hospital started offering 3D mammography, the number of screenings per year have kept climbing. Last year, 870 mammography screening were conducted at WHMC.

“We were the first in the greater Palouse Empire area to offer such screenings,” said Laurie Gronning, WHMC public relations specialist. The hospital now offers screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, Stereotactis breast biopsy, ultra sound mammography, ultra sound guided biopsy and ultra sound drainage.

“When breast cancer is found in its earliest stages, the chance for successful treatment is greatest,” said Gronning.

The American Cancer Society advises women have yearly mammograms beginning at age 40. According to Harvey Olson, head of imaging at WHMC, it is normal for woman to be anxious about coming in for a mammogram, especially their first. He encouraged those reluctant about having a mammograms because of what they have heard from others to go in with an open mind and not think about what they’ve heard. The staff at WHMC who do the mammograms have been specially trained and will walk through the process with patients. There is discomfort—the breast tissue has to be flattened as much as possible before what is basically a low-radiation x-ray passes through to detect any abnormalities or masses. The hospital tries to further alleviate patient anxiety by returning results within 24 hours for the vast majority of patients.

After the age of 40, women are advised to receive a mammograms yearly. Olson noted the longer between scans, the worse cancer can get before it is caught. The earlier cancer is found, the more options there are for treatment, he said.

While breast cancer is more likely to occur after age 40, is can happen at any age. Gronning noted some women have a greater chance of breast cancer due to factors such as family history.

“If you have a family history of breast cancer, then you should discuss that with your primary care provider,” Gronning said. “They can order a mammography exam prior to age 40, if it is necessary.”

Woman in their 20s and 30s should have a breast exam as part of their regular health checkups at least every three years.

“Breast awareness should be second nature for a woman.,” Gronning said. “You should become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel, so if changes occur, you can report them right away to your primary care provider. Self-examination allows you to become familiar with how your breast feels. Your provider can show you the correct way to perform self-examinations and how to detect lumps, thickness or other changes.”

Individuals and businesses who would like to donate to the Paint the Town Pink Fund for Whitman County Residents can do so at http://www.whitmanhospital.org/news/releases/paint-the-town-pink-pttp/.