October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
NEMHS Charitable Foundation Receives Donations
Beyond the pink ribbons and the pastel sea of color that marks October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month offers a reason to increase your attention and support for early detection and treatment of this disease.
Because of COVID-19, it is difficult to focus on any other health issues, but regular screenings and care are still as important in 2020 as they ever have been. Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women in which one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer at some point.
While most people are aware of the disease, they may not be aware of the utmost importance of early detection. Screening exams, such as mammograms, are used to detect breast cancer early, even before any symptoms are present. Women who have regular screenings are less likely to die of breast cancer as the cancer is detected in earlier stages when survival rates are the highest.
Northeast Montana Health Services recently purchased a new 3D mammography unit that will help improve the detection rate of breast cancer. It is called Hologic 3D Mammography ™ technology by Selenia Dimensions.
The previous 2D mammography equipment had been purchased by NEMHS in 2010 and was one of the best machines available at that time; however, the machine had reached its end-of-life in 2019, making it very difficult to get service and parts.
The process of the screening is the same for the patient with the new machine, with results being even more accurate as it creates a three-dimensional picture of the breast that radiologists can rotate, spin and scroll through. The new unit has been setup, and in use, since July and is located at the Trinity radiology department in Wolf Point.
Earlier this year, NEMHS had the privilege of being a recipient of a significant boost from a contributor towards the purchase of the new 3D system. Giving from the heart and in honor of their wife and mother Jean, former Governor Ted Schwinden and his family provided a major donation in her memory.
Jean was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants Nels and Amanda Christianson and grew up in the Tule Creek area of Wolf Point. Both she and husband Ted attended and graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1943. She then enrolled into nursing school within the U.S. Army Cadet nursing program. After receiving her degree, she returned to Montana in 1946 to marry Ted after his discharge from the U.S. Army.
Jean had been employed at Trinity Hospital off and on while also raising her family and living on the family farm in the 1950s. Jean and Ted were married for 60 years with Jean succumbing to cancer in 2007.
According to the Schwinden family, this gift to the Wolf Point hospital in her memory will help provide needed services for the women in the community which was so dear to Jean’s heart.
“During this time of great uncertainty, we’ve been comforted and encouraged by the generosity and support from the Schwinden family donation to our facility,” said Peg Norgaard, chief executive officer of Northeast Montana Health Services. “While 2020 has been a challenging year, it is humbling to reflect on the compassion and dedication shown in such a heartwarming way in memory of Jean Schwinden.”
Additionally, another compassionate and very generous donation to the mammography department has been given this summer by the Baracker and Corne families in memory of family member Pat Halverson.
The NEMHS Charitable Foundation has also raised money all year from fundraising events and drawings and will be presenting their pledged amount to the new 3D mammography machine this fall.
During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to know that when it comes to breast cancer screenings, delaying your mammogram could be a bigger risk if put off for too long as early detection and treatment are vital and can save lives.
NEMHS will be protecting radiology patients with infection control measures, mask wearing and temperatures taken before screenings.
'Many of us spent the last few months putting our personal health care on hold, but now it's time to bring our whole health back into focus,' says Monica Hanson, director of NEMHS radiology. 'Early detection of breast cancer with annual mammograms remains our most powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer in women. We also want to assure you that we have safety measures in place to protect our patients and our staff from exposure to the virus.'
All women who receive their mammogram screening during the month of October will be automatically entered into drawings for six individual stainless steel coffee mugs and a gift basket donated from the NEMHS Charitable Foundation. Also, each mammogram participate throughout the month will receive a goodie bag full of pink items.
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the health community asks you to remind your sisters, mothers, daughters, friends and coworkers to schedule a breast exam if they have not had one recently. Women typically start getting mammograms at the age of 40. Once 40, women are recommended to get a mammogram every year to screen for breast cancer. If there is a family history of breast cancer, some doctors may recommend screening at an earlier age. Contact your local healthcare provider to assist in a referral for an annual screening.
For more information, contact the NEMHS radiology department at 653-6538.
