One in Eight. That’s the estimated risk of an American woman developing invasive breast cancer during her life. Among cancer deaths in women, breast cancer is second only to lung cancer. American Cancer Society stats show a steady decline in deaths from breast cancer, and credit earlier detection through better screening – most notably routine mammography.

In October, Marshall Medical Center will be recognizing National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with extra mammography appointments available at Marshall’s Diagnostic Imaging center on Cedar Ravine Avenue in Placerville.

A grant from the Marshall Foundation for Community Health has also provided the Cameron Park and Cedar Ravine mammography patients with a promotional gift of pink ribbon pens.

Pink bracelets also can be purchased to support breast cancer awareness and treatment. Bracelet sale proceeds will be donated to the Marshall Foundation for Community Health to provide mammograms to the uninsured or underinsured members of our community.

If you get your mammography at Marshall, you’ll benefit from the exclusive use of digital mammography, which is more accurate and takes less time. A physician’s order is required for a mammography, so now is the perfect time to get medical appointments out of the way, before the rush of the holiday season hits. Please note: Most insurance will only pay for an mammogram once a year, so be sure it has not been less than a year since your previous mammogram.

Detecting breast cancer early: Recommendations from the American Cancer Society:

- Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year, and continue to do so as long as they are in good health.

- Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic health exam by a health professional, at least every three years.

- Breast self exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s and involves a technique for detecting breast changes.