- Mammography has helped save lives in the US by nearly 1/3 since 1990.

- For those that a mammogram helped save their life, 40% were in their 40's.

- 3 in 4 women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history.

- For women over 50, skipping a mammogram every other year can miss up to 30% of cancer.

Screening Tests: The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances that treatment will work. The goal is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are the most important factors in predicting the outlook for the patient. Screening tests (such as yearly mammograms) are given routinely to people who appear to be healthy and are not suspected of having breast cancer. Their purpose is to find breast cancer early, before any symptoms can develop and the cancer usually is easier to treat. The term screening refers to tests and exams used to find a disease like cancer in people who do not have any symptoms.

Inland Imaging follows the guidelines of the American Cancer Society which recommendations: women 40 and older should have a screening mammogram once a year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.

Detection: What are the next steps if there is detection from a screening mammogram?

Breast cancer death rates have been going down steadily. This is likely the result of finding the cancer earlier and medical advancements that allow for better treatment. Right now there are more than 2½ million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

Half of Spokane women are forgoing their annual screening mammogram.

Data shows that there are several barriers that are keeping a woman from having a mammogram. Inland Imaging is taking measures to break down these barriers to be sure that every woman can have a mammogram in Spokane. 

Inland Imaging has 5 Mammography Locations: Deer Park, Holy Family, Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane Valley and Manito Mammography Center.

EVERY WOMAN CAN is a program brought to you by Inland Imaging to help women over 40 have their annual screening mammogram.

The EVERY WOMAN CAN Foundation was created to raise money for uninsured and underinsured women to obtain screening mammograms.

Sign up to be reminded of your mammogram at http://www.everywomancan.org/.

Schedule your mammogram today call 509.455.4455.

The Spokane Regional Health District provides free mammography screenings. They also will provide follow up diagnostic testing and cancer treatment for eligible women.

This program is for women who:

- Are 40-64 years of age

- Have limited income

- Are uninsured or have insurance that does not completely cover women's health care services, or have an insurance plan that requires a deductible or co-payment that she cannot afford Live in Washington State

Examinations are provided by community providers throughout Eastern Washington. (Including Inland Imaging)

Call the BCCHP (Breast Cervical and Colon Health Program) at 324-1520 or visit http://www.srhd.org/services/bcchp.asp to see if you qualify and for more information.

Medicare, Medicaid and most private health plans cover all or part of the cost of a mammogram.

FIRE FIGHTERS IN PINK: Spokane County Fire District 8 personnel are coordinating to bring awareness to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. IAFF Local 3711, volunteer members, temporary hourly and, resident firefighters, as well as all district support staff and administration will be wearing a special addition pink t-shirt to help increase our community’s awareness of breast cancer.

They want the shirts to serve as a reminder that early detection can and does save lives. All firefighters from Spokane County Fire District 8 want the community to know this disease affects many people, both woman and men. Not only will Spokane County Fire District 8 be wearing the pink t-shirts, but other fire departments and firefighters in the Spokane area will be participating in this event.