Central Peninsula Hospital provided 64 walk-in screening mammograms while promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, they said Tuesday.
According to a press release from the hospital, breast cancer screening is important because when detected early, “the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%.” Hospital employees also marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink surgical gloves.
“We are so grateful to the community for their support of breast cancer awareness efforts,” says Imaging Director Katherine Leslie in the release. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, but it is also one of the most treatable when detected early. That’s why we encourage all women to get regular mammograms.”
During a Public Health ECHO earlier this year, Anne Remick, program director for the State Department of Health’s Section of Women’s, Children’s and Family Health, described mammography as among several key cancer screenings that have seen a downward trend since 2016.
In Alaska’s Gulf Coast Region, which includes the Kenai Peninsula, around 55% of women over 40 years of age are up to date on breast cancer screenings, Remick said. That means having received a mammogram within the last two years.
Remick said that 1 in 3 people get cancer in their life. In Alaska, cancer is the leading cause of death, and breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is that breast cancer screenings should be performed every two years in women aged 40-74.
According to the release, the hospital offers “a variety of breast cancer screening services, including mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs.” They note that “many insurance plans provide for and pay for this screening because it can save lives and future medical expenses.”
To schedule a mammogram, call 907-714-4420. For more information about the hospital, visit cpgh.org.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
