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Mammography campaign kicks off
by LaToya Hankins - THE CHARLOTTE POST

T he American Cancer Society is acting in women's "breast" interests by promoting the benefits of mammograms.

The organization is launching its "Tell A Friend" mammography campaign by offering free or reduced breast cancer mammography screenings and breast health awareness on Thursday in Mecklenburg and Union County.

"Even though there has been a large collaborative message to let women know the importance of having a mammogram after 40, there is still a need for more information," said Jean Kulesa, community cancer control manger for The American Cancer Society. "We want women to support each other and take time to have mammograms because it really makes a difference in catching early-stage breast cancer."

All women should be aware of the risk:

• One in eight American women will get breast cancer during her lifetime
• The risk increases with age but only 10 percent of women 65 and older were aware of it
• More than 80 percent of breast cancer is diagnosed in women who have no family history of the disease.

While breast cancer is the second-leading cause of death for all North Carolina women, it is the number one among African Americans.

Reasons for the gap is possibly due to delayed diagnosis and lack of adequate medical attention. That is why early detection through self-exams and mammograms are so important.

Mammography is a low dose x-ray that allows visualization of the internal structure of the breast. Mammograms have a higher degree of sensitivity to find cancer than clinical exams.

The schedule for the mammograms are:

• Today: Midtown Square
• Oct. 7 ­ Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church, 700 Sugar Creek Road West
• Oct. 14 ­ Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 1600 Clanton Road
• Oct. 21 ­ Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 3301 Beatties Ford Road
• Oct. 22 ­ Jackson Park Ministries, 5415 Airport Drive
• Oct. 28 ­ Wal-Mart Stores at 3304 Eastway Drive
• Oct. 29 ­ Wal-Mart Stores in Monroe

Appointments can be made by calling Mobile Health Outreach at (800) 952-4097.

You should know: 
Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of death for all North Carolina women, it is the number one among African Americans.