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Monday, October 13, 2008

UMC to Provide Breast Cancer Screenings

Screenings to be Provided at Lied Ambulatory Care Center, 1524 Pinto Lane

Breast cancer will likely affect 1 in 8 women at some time in their life. Nearly 200,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To mark the occasion, University Medical Center will provide free Breast Cancer Screenings on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lied Ambulatory Care Center, 1524 Pinto Lane, Las Vegas. The screenings consist of a clinical breast exam and do not include a mammogram. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled by calling 207-8265. However, walk-ins will be accepted.

A clinical breast exam is performed by a health care provider who manually checks breasts and underarm areas for any lumps or changes that may be present. Women should have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years between the ages of 20 and 39 and every year starting at 40. The American Cancer Society recommends a baseline mammogram for women at age 35, then annually beginning at age 40.

“In addition to clinical breast exams and mammograms, women should get to know their own bodies by performing a monthly breast self exam or ‘BSE’,” states Doris Cowell, UMC Oncology Program Coordinator. Cowell continued, “This gives women an opportunity to inform their physicians of any breast changes throughout the year.”

A woman’s chances of surviving are better if the cancer is detected early, before it spreads to other parts of her body. According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate is 98 percent when breast cancer is confined to the breast.

Contact Information:
Tammy McMahan
(702) 383-3617
Tammy.McMahan@umcsn.com
University Medical Center
1800 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102