Trusted care, close to home 

She's your sister, your mother, your friend, or maybe just the neighbor down the street. This person is not just a statistic, but someone you know.  It doesn't always happen to someone else.  It could even happen to you.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with the exception of skin cancers.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, exceeded only by lung cancer.

The incidence of breast cancer has been increasing every year.

The main risk factor for breast cancer is simply being a women, however men can have breast cancer as well.  As women get older, the chance of getting breast cancer increases with age.

1 out of every 8 women will have breast cancer.  1 out of every 100 men will have breast cancer.

Breast cancer is higher among women who have a blood relative that has this disease.  Caucasian women are more likely to get breast cancer, as are women who have not had children, or who didn't have children until after the age of 30.

70% of the women diagnosed with breast cancer have none of these risk factors I just mentioned.

Early diagnosis is an important key to the survival of breast cancer. These are the American Cancer Societies guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer.

Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram, (or X-Ray of the breast) every year.

Women shouldn't wait for their doctor to suggest a mammogram, they should ask their doctor if this is a test they should have done.

Women in their 20's and 30's should have a clinical breast exam by a doctor as part of a regular health exam every 3 years. After age 40 these exams should be done every year.

A breast self exam is a way for women to find changes in their breasts.  Breast self exams, starting at age 20, should be done every month.  

Women should report any change in their breasts to their doctor right away, especially...

Even if a women does have any of these symptoms, remember that most of the time these changes are not cancer. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 women have non-cancerous breast conditions. If someone you know does have any of these symptoms, please have her call and get an appointment with their doctor.

MCMH is proud to provide a new Breast Health Clinic for residents of SW Iowa. Through this clinic, we will be able to offer services to women with abnormal breast exams, mammograms or other breast health concerns.  Reconstruction will be offered to women diagnosed with breast cancer.

As coordinator for our new clinic, I will assist and support our patients throughout the treatment process.  I will schedule appointments, referrals, tests or procedures for our patients.  I will assist each person throughout any treatment process that is needed.  Our goal through this clinic is to expedite any treatment process that is required for each of our patients.