Breast Cancer Awareness
We love wearing pink during October, but it is so much more than that. Wearing pink raises awareness of breast cancer screening, the importance of early detection, steps you can take toward the prevention of breast cancer, and supports survivors.
For women at average risk of breast cancer, screening with a mammogram should begin at age 40. Your provider may recommend earlier screening if you are considered to be at high risk due to personal or family history of breast cancer or other factors. Breast cancer can develop at any age. Risk for breast cancer actually increases as women age, so it remains important to continue routine screening (Susan G. Komen, 2025).
At Crossing Rivers Health, a risk assessment is completed along with your mammogram. This assessment helps us to identify women at an elevated risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime. Knowing this information allows providers and women to discuss additional screening options such as breast MRI, referral to a high-risk breast clinic, and lifestyle changes. Together, they can develop a personalized plan that meets the person’s specific needs and wishes.
Breast cancer is now the number one diagnosed cancer in Crawford County, up from the number two spot recorded in 2023, yet only 73% of women in Crawford County are up-to-date with their screening mammogram (WiCancer.org, 2025). Although breast cancer screening rates have increased in Wisconsin as a whole, Crawford County has remained relatively stable over the past two years, falling behind the state average (WiCancer.org, 2025).
Why is a mammogram so important? Mammograms can often find cancers years before you or your provider would notice changes to the breast by exam (American Cancer Society, 2023). Routine mammograms can help identify breast cancer at an early stage, offering improved outcomes and less intensive treatment. Studies show that tumor sizes from mammogram-detected breast cancers are half the size of those detected by other methods (Lehtimaki et al., 2011). Tumor size has a direct impact on patient outcome, especially for tumors detected that are less than 15mm (approximately the size of a dime). Additionally, there was a 15% decrease in lymph node involvement in breast cancer found with screening mammogram (Lehtimaki et al., 2011). Delaying a mammogram can put you at risk of a more advanced breast cancer, increased interventions, more aggressive treatment, longer recovery time, and decreased chance of survival.
The American Cancer Society shares information about 5-year relative survival rates of breast cancer based on where the cancer was initially found. Localized cancers are those contained within the breast, regional cancers are those that have spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes, and distant cancers are those that have spread to distant parts of the body, such as organs or bones. Early-stage breast cancer has a five-year survival rate of 99 percent, while later-stage cancer has a survival rate of only 32 percent (American Cancer Society, 2025). See the graph below for the survival rates of each category.
Crossing Rivers Health offers comprehensive breast services, ranging from screening to diagnostic care. Our imaging department offers 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and breast biopsy services. Breast MRI may be used as an additional tool for screening. MRI can be especially beneficial for women with dense breast tissue, where traditional mammograms or ultrasounds may miss an abnormality. Breast MRI can also be used for other purposes, such as pre-surgical cancer staging or monitoring response to treatment. If a suspicious area is noted, our radiologists can perform a biopsy of the area. Our in-house radiologists are committed to providing breast care here at Crossing Rivers Health, helping women receive the care they need and reducing delays in care and travel outside of our community.
A navigator is someone trained to help you through a process. Our breast nurse navigator partners with Crossing Rivers Health primary care providers to assist patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer to get the information, resources, and support they need. The nurse navigator is part of the healthcare team, helping women make informed choices for care, assisting with care coordination, and providing ongoing support to patients and their families throughout treatment. For our patients who may be identified as having an elevated risk of developing breast cancer, our nurse navigator and the primary care provider will work with the patient in developing a comprehensive plan with our Medical Imaging Department for additional screening services and follow-up care.
Did you know there are changes you can make in your daily life to decrease your risk of developing breast cancer? Be aware of what your breasts usually look and feel like so you can identify changes early and seek advice from your primary care provider. Other activities like living an active lifestyle, including regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, and stopping smoking, also reduce your risk of developing breast and many other cancers. Further reduce your risk by choosing to consume a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while being low in saturated fats, red meat, processed foods, and refined sugars.
Do not wait until you have symptoms. Be proactive to prevent and detect breast cancer early. Schedule a mammogram during a time of year that is easy for you to remember, like your birthday or anniversary. Make time to care for yourself. Contact your primary care provider or schedule your mammogram today by calling Crossing Rivers Health Medical Imaging Department at 608.357.2244. Early breast cancer detection saves lives.
Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative. (2025). Interactive County Cancer Data Dashboard. https://wicancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WCC-Final-2025-Crawford.pdf
American Cancer Society. (2025, January 16). Survival Rates for Breast Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-survival-rates.html
Tomlinson-Hansen, S, Budh, D, and Sapra, A. (2024, October 3). Breast Cancer Screening in the Average-Risk Patient. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556050/
American Cancer Society. (2023, December 19). American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html
Lehtimaki, T, Lundin M, Linder N, et al. (2011, December 28). Long-Term Prognosis of Breast Cancer Detected by Mammography Screening or Other Methods. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3326576/#abstract1
Susan G. Komen. (2025, June 3). Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Age. https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/risk-factor/age/