BUTTE — An easier way for women to get checked for breast cancer will hopefully be coming to Southwest Montana soon.
St. James Healthcare wants to bring a mobile mammography unit to help women keep up to date with their mammogram screenings.
"Something we have identified at St. James Healthcare is access to care. We service a seven-county region. . . so we want to make sure that we’re providing access to all women of our area so we make sure that all women that need to be screened are getting screened," said Kacie Bartholomew, Director of Development for the St. James foundation.
1 in 8 women will face breast cancer in their lifetime.
According to St. James Healthcare, 48 percent of women ages 50-74 in the hospital's service area have not had a mammogram within the past 2 years.
In 2021, it is estimated 950 women in Montana will be diagnosed with breast cancer, with an estimated 140 breast cancer deaths
"As we interviewed one patient when we did the boulder mammography screening this summer, she actually had said my kids won’t let me drive anymore and she lived in Boulder and so how was she ever going to get her screening if we don’t come to her?" asked Bartholomew.
To raise money for the mobile mammography unit, St. James will be holding a virtual brunch over zoom. A live presentation and silent auction will take place during the event.
All donations are accepted, and those who donate $500 or more will receive a champagne brunch delivered to their door.
During the month of October, Closet Collections and Denny Menholt Ford will be donating a portion of their proceeds from the month of October to raise money for the mobile unit.
"Early detection is key. A lot of times we see women come in just too late and there’s nothing we can do at that point for them. We know that stage 1 and stage 2 are very curable so if women can come in when they hit 40 and then after we know that we have a better chance of nipping it in the bud so to speak," said Bartholomew.
St. James healthcare hopes having the mobile mammography unit will encourage women across Southwest Montana to get tested for breast cancer. To register for the event, click here.
RELATED:
American Cancer Society says breast cancer most diagnosed cancer in the world
Study: Fewer people diagnosed with cancer during first year of pandemic
Clinical trial in Virginia to study if weight loss can keep breast cancer from returning
Montana Highway Patrol aiming to slow breast cancer, one pink patch at a time
