(Spirit Lake)– Lakes Regional Healthcare is participating in a campaign designed to increase the public’s awareness into breast cancer, as this month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The hospital’s caregivers are wearing pink gloves. Radiology Manager Tracy Evans says they are serving as a visual reminder that early detection and prevention is key when it comes to breast cancer. Officials say if all women received regular screenings and mammograms after turning 40 that the death rate would fall.
In addition to raising awareness, officials say the pink gloves also help provide free mammograms to women who can’t afford them. The company that manufactures them, Medline, contributes $1 from every sale of a case of pink gloves to the National Breat Cancer Foundation, an organization that has provided over 130,000 free screenings since 2004.
Breast Cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women and takes the lives of about 40,000 women annually. Risk factors may include age, genetics, obesity and family history. Officials say regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet and regular visits with your doctor may reduce your risk factor.
For more information or to schedule a mammogram, call Lakes Regional Healthcare at 336-8658.
