The profusion of pink among all the orange, yellow, and brown serves as a reminder that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second most lethal cancer for women in the US, and about 1 in 8 women will get it during their lifetime. Although rates of deaths from breast cancer have declined over the past two decades, the American Cancer Society estimates that 232,340 new cases will be diagnosed in 2013, and that almost 40,000 women will die from the disease this year.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) opened a mammography suite at Whittier last Tuesday, October 1. We are proud to partner with one of the world’s leading organizations in conquering cancer. The mammography suite will serve our patients and community residents needing access to mammography screenings. We are pleased to offer the fixed mammography services in addition to the DFCI Community Cancer Center on the fifth floor

To schedule an appointment, please call 617-989-3200. The suite is located on the first floor, near the pharmacy. It’s open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and on Wednesdays between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM.

If you believe you are at risk for breast cancer because of a family history, or if you are age 40 or older, please get a mammogram. Earlier detection through screening and improved treatment have been attributed to the lower rates of breast cancer deaths since 1989.

Medicare Part B covers a screening mammogram every year. Please call the Mammography Suite if you have another insurance plan and have questions about coverage.

Finally, please save these two dates in October: the 18th and the 23rd. October 18 is National Mammography Day, which seeks to encourage millions of women, especially older women and those in underserved communities, to receive a preventive mammogram and become empowered in the fight against breast cancer. Then, on Wednesday, October 23, Dr. Rachel A. Freedman from Dana-Farber will lead a Breast Health Workshop here at Whittier, from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM. Please join us in learning more about screening and treatment!

The links below provide more information about breast cancer:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-key-statistics

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

http://www.medicare.gov/coverage/mammograms.html

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

With every new program added to our wealth of services, we are getting that much closer to eliminating health disparities, an ultimate goal at Whittier.