October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a reminder that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, according to current statistics. It is also an annual reminder for women over the age of 40 to schedule regular mammogram screenings or as prescribed by their health care provider if they are younger with high to moderate risk. At Hillcrest Henryetta, patients have access to the top technology in mammography screening to rest assured their breast health is proactively managed.
“It is sometimes assumed that because we are a smaller hospital than Tulsa, we do not have the same technology, but we are state of the art,” says radiology manager Janna Duggan, RN. “Digital mammography is the gold standard in mammography, the pictures are more detailed and cancers are caught earlier.”
In fact, it has been reported mammograms can reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by 35 percent for women over the age of 50. However, not all women get their annual mammogram, for a variety of reasons including thinking they don’t have the time to anxiety about the process and results.
Duggan says her team in the radiology department at Hillcrest Henryetta is there to put patients at ease to get an accurate and precise image. “We are not as big as other facilities, so we have extra time to take extra care to help the more anxious patient,” she adds.
Ashley Wolfe, mammography tech, says she takes advantage of having the time to be there for patients and listen. 
“I like the satisfaction of visiting with each lady and knowing that I’m providing them with a comprehensive mammogram that helps with the early detection of breast cancer,” she says. “I enjoy being part of the Hillcrest Henryetta family because it is a smaller hospital and I can take the extra time with each lady to make them feel more comfortable and answer any question she may have.”
For patients requiring further testing or follow-up, the Leta M. Chapman Breast Center at Hillcrest Medical Center offers a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designated by the American College of Radiology. “The Leta M. Chapman Breast Center is an excellent facility, that has a Radiologist present so the patient often finds out the results before leaving the facility,” says Duggan.
To learn more about managing risk factors for breast cancer, visit cancer.org.