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Breast Cancer Awareness in October

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And on the fifth of this month, and every month, the American Cancer Society (ACS) encourages all women to do a breast self exam. To find out how, visit the ACS Web site at: www.cancer.org.

“We’re calling this ‘Tell-A-Friend Tuesday,'” explained Pam Rector, Health Initiatives Specialist with the ACS. “We’re encouraging women to call five friends and tell them to do a breast self exam.”

Throughout the month, there will be efforts to draw attention to breast cancer. Both Mineral Area Regional Medical Center and Parkland Health Center are offering mammograms at reduced costs for women 40 and older with no health insurance.

Every Wednesday at Parkland in Bonne Terre, women who meet the requirements can get a mammogram for $25. The fee must be paid at the time of service. To make an appointment, call 760-8460.

At Mineral Area, mammograms will be given from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 18-30 at a cost to the patient of $45, which must be paid at the time of the service. To schedule an appointment there, call 756-4581.

On Oct. 19, Medicate Pharmacy will have information for women who have had mastectomies and offer fittings for prosthesis.

“We’ll have the Amona representative here who makes all the prosthesis for women,” said Michelle Smith, Medicate. “And we have the Celebrate Life pins available for sale to benefit next year’s Relay For Life.”

The mastectomy information day will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Pink ribbons are the symbol for breast cancer awareness. The ACS Web site has directions on how to make one to wear in October.

In 2003, an estimated 211,300 women learned they had breast cancer. More than a thousand men received that same news and about 40,000 people died from breast cancer in the U.S.

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