Chances are, you personally know someone who now has or has had breast cancer. Actually, about 1 in 8 women born today in the U.S. will get breast cancer at some point, and breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. 

Those kinds of odds are unsettling. But the good news is that most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early, which is the primary message being spread during the month of October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A mammogram — the screening test for breast cancer — can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat. Despite the importance of early detection and the availability of mammography, Wyoming continues to score in the bottom three nationally for mammogram rates. 

Over the years, women have come to feel more open and comfortable talking about breast cancer, and hopefully the conversation will continue and expand to educate and encourage women to be screened early.  

For women seeking mammograms in Uinta County, there are some great options:

Evanston Regional Hospital offers soft-touch digital mammograms, with evening appointments available. And in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the out-of-pocket maximum for a screening mammogram at ERH during October is $100. (Mammography patients get a gift this month, too.)

There is also a free breast cancer screening program offered through the state, so cost need not be a barrier. For more information about how to qualify and apply for this program contact Wyoming Cancer Resource Services or Public Health.

Here is some of the important information to know when it comes to deciding when and how often to get a mammogram:

• If you are a woman age 40 to 49, talk with your doctor about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them. Risk factors, such as a family history or breast or ovarian cancer, may influence when you should start getting them.

• If you are a woman age 50 to 74, be sure to get a mammogram every 2 years. You may also choose to get them more often.

Many women are nurturers and look to take care of others, but as Helen, a breast cancer survivor, put it, “We have to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.” Getting screened for breast cancer, as well as other health conditions is an important part of taking care of one’s self.