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Prairie du Chien- Join Crossing Rivers Health and the #PinkPose Challenge this month in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” urges Tim Clark, Medical Imaging Director at Crossing Rivers Health. “This fun campaign will boost awareness for the importance of breast cancer screenings, educate others, and help us all in the fight against breast cancer. Encourage your family, work colleagues or friends at school- all ages throughout the region, to get involved to help save lives. A #PinkPose shows you’re taking action and standing up to cancer.”

Susan K. McMillan, APNP-C Family Nurse Practitioner at Crossing Rivers Health Clinic, stated, “Different experts have different recommendations for breast cancer screening in the form of mammography. Starting at age 40, it's important to talk to your provider about the benefits and risks of screening. This should be a personal choice between the woman and her health care provider. If you are under 40, but have a relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, talk to your health care provider about early screening. As a provider, I recommend annual mammography at age 40 (or earlier screening depending on history), monthly self - exam, as well as annual professional exam of the breast by a healthcare provider. At Crossing Rivers Health Clinic, we can calculate your personal lifetime risk for developing breast cancer. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Be proactive, come in for your annual exam or check up – it may save your life! “

Jean Blake, Medical Imaging Supervisor at Crossing Rivers Health adds, “Our Medical Imaging team challenges you to strike a #PinkPose, share it on Facebook using the custom Facebook frame and tag @crossingrivershealth. We also challenge you to take action. There are lots of actions that can help save lives: talk to one woman about the guidelines for mammography, schedule your mammogram, or encourage a woman you love to schedule her exam. Join Crossing Rivers Health, individuals, groups and businesses across the region to rally together as a community to show your support. To learn more about the #PinkPose Challenge, visit crossingrivers.org/pinkpose.”

3D™ Tomosynthesis Mammography at Crossing Rivers Health is the most advanced technology available to detect breast cancer and provides a superior mammogram for all breast types. The technology captures 120 images of each breast to create a detailed, 3D image which allows the radiologist to see right through dense tissue in greater detail, helping to identify small calcifications that could be potential cancers.

Tim Clark adds, “Crossing Rivers Health is able to provide any breast imaging service available within the Medical Imaging Department: breast ultrasound guided biopsies, stereotactic 3D biopsies, and breast MRI. We are pleased to offer the 3D mammogram at no extra charge. We believe every woman should have access to the benefits of 3D mammography, without the extra worry of having to pay more. You do not have to have your mammogram ordered by a doctor or other healthcare provider. We only need the name of your health care provider so that we may send him or her the final report.”

According to the American Cancer Society, simply being a woman is the main risk factor for breast cancer. Men can have breast cancer too, but breast cancer is about 100 times more common in women than in men. Some risk factors for breast cancer, such as age, can't be avoided. On the other hand, there are some risks that you can control. It's important to be aware both of the risks you can't change and of those you can do something about. Remember, seventy-five percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no special identifiable risk factors: screening only women with risk factors will miss the vast majority of women who will develop breast cancer.