Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Screening Saves Lives

NeighborHealth Offers Mobile Mammography in Partnership with UNC Rex Healthcare

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about much more than wearing pink and attending fundraisers throughout the month of October. It’s about helping women in our community – particularly those who are underserved – get the screening they need. Sadly, one in eight women (or 13 percent) of all women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime, and one in 39 (or three percent) will die from this disease.

We know that mammograms save lives. That’s because many women who have breast cancer don’t experience symptoms prior to diagnosis, making routine screening critical for breast cancer detection. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early and in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. As the disease progresses, survival rates decrease significantly with late-stage diagnosis survival rates dropping as low as 28 percent.

Yet, less than 70 percent of women aged 40 and over have had a mammogram within the past two years. For many, we know that access to quality healthcare and lack of insurance play a role. For others, it’s about awareness.

As such, NeighborHealth is helping improve awareness of and access to this important screening tool through the Rex Healthcare Mobile Mammography unit. “We know that offering this convenient service to our patients can help save lives,” explains Betsy Joyner, PA, director of clinical service for NeighborHealth. “As part of our commitment to women’s health, we’re one of the few Raleigh health care providers serving new patients who are uninsured, or Medicaid insured. We know caring for our neighbors is the right thing to do, which is why we’re encouraging this important screening.”

While there isn’t consensus among major healthcare organizations as to when women should start getting a mammogram, most agree that women of average risk should start by age 45, with others starting as early as age 40 based on risk factors and personal preference. NeighborHealth is committed to helping women, uninsured and insured, connect with resources for breast cancer screening.

To learn more or schedule a mammogram through NeighborHealth’s partnership with the Rex Healthcare Mobile Mammography unit, please call 984-222-8000.

A Reminder

It’s time to get your flu shot! With so much attention focused on being vaccinated for COVID, getting a flu shot may have fallen off your radar, but it is more important than ever this year. Five to 20 percent of Americans will get the flu, and although most will be well after a week or two, it can be deadly. Flu shots are available at NeighborHealth at NO CHARGE, for the uninsured and the insured. Call 984-222-8000.

Do you need a COVID test or vaccine? Please call us for information — 984.222.8000.

(984) 222-8000   |   neighborhealthcenter.org