News Release
Mercy encourages women to schedule mammograms
October 6, 2008
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Mercy Medical Center is reminding women to schedule their annual mammograms. Yearly mammograms are an important part of routine health care for women age 40 and older, and help in early detection of breast cancer.
While some are at higher risk for breast cancer, no one is immune. Regular mammograms are the best defense. Risk factors that place a person at a higher risk of getting breast cancer include:
- Age—breast cancer is less common before age 40 and more common after age 60
- Family history of breast cancer in a mother, sister or daughter—especially if it occurred before age 40
- Early onset of menstrual periods (before age 12)
- Late onset of menopause (after age 55)
- The older the age a woman is when she has her first child, the higher her risk of breast cancer
- The use of hormone replacement therapy (estrogens)
For patients’ convenience, Mercy Medical Center offers digital mammography services at three locations—Mercy Medical Center in downtown Des Moines, Mercy North in Ankeny and Mercy West in Clive. Saturday appointments are available at all three locations. Mercy also offers free mammograms year-round for women who qualify. To find out if you qualify, please visit www.idph.state.ia.us/careforyourself/eligibility.asp.
Call (515) 247-4444 today to schedule your mammogram.
Contact Gregg Lagan
Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines
515-247-3050
cell 515-490-6636
Learn more about breast health
