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Local breast cancer services range from screenings to emotional support By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are a variety of services for women to be screened for breast cancer and support them if they’ve been diagnosed. Kaiser Permanente locations and Cascade Valley Hospital provide mammogram screenings. For the month of October, there are special evening hours available on Wednesdays as well. “Evening mammograms will be offered every Wednesday in October with the last appointment at 6:30 p.m. To schedule a visit, call 360-435-0515,” according to Kari Ranten, director of marketing and communications at Skagit Regional Health. Skagit Regional Health’s Smokey Point clinic also has a cancer center with a number of comprehensive services. Detecting breast cancer early is an important part of giving yourself better recovery odds. “Since cancer has a better prognosis when detected earlier, we wish we had proven methods to detect all types of cancers at an early stage, but unfortunately for the majority we currently do not,” said Joshua Wilfong, a doctor of oncology at Kaiser Permanente Everett Medical Center. “Mammography is one of the few cancer screening techniques that has been shown to decrease mortality in those screened. In addition, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, occurring in 12% of women, making early detection that much more important,” he said. For those who have been diagnosed with cancer, the American Cancer Society provides a number of programs to support women. “We provided about 6,000 services to people
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in this county last year,” said Jerri Wood, American Cancer Society’s program manager for western and eastern Washington. The ACS hotline at 1-800-ACS-2345 is one of the best ways to get connected to basic help and services. “If a lady is going through breast cancer, the hotline is available for them to call on a Saturday or at 3 a.m. in the morning, or whenever they need help,” said Wood. They also provide a lot of informational support. “We help people understand what they are entitled to through their insurance,” said Wood. The hotline is also available to provide support for family members and caretakers. “That’s just an important number for anyone if they know someone who is going through breast cancer,” said Wood. “As a daughter of a breast cancer patient I used it when I had a question and I didn’t want to scare my mom with the ques-
tion,” she said. For additional emotional support the ACS also helps breast cancer survivors connect with newly diagnosed patients. “They help talk to them on the phone or meet them for coffee, whatever the person is comfortable with,” said Wood. The ACS also provides some help with some more direct help and resources, like their Road to Recovery program. “People volunteer to be drivers and drive people to their cancer treatments,” said Wood. “We had over 1,000 rides provided last year in this county." There is also support for ferry transportation. “If they live on the peninsula and need help to get to Seattle for treatment,” said Wood. Free wigs, head scarves and turbans are available for women if needed as they go through chemotherapy. “We have a closet for them at the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership,” said Wood.
October 23, 2019 - October 29, 2019 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK
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