Cook County's Provident Hospital Recognizes National Mammography Month

Originally published Friday, October 12, on the Cook County Health and Hospitals System website:

Cook County Health and Hospitals System officials announced Friday, October 12th,  that in honor of National Mammography Month, Provident Hospital of Cook County will offer free mammography screenings to the first 50 women who preferably have never had a mammogram.

Noting early detection can save lives, Dr. Kenneth Williams, Clinical Chair of Radiology at Provident, urges every wife, mother, daughter and sister to schedule their mammography screening.

 “I want to urge every woman who needs a breast screening to get it because there is absolutely no reason not to,” says Dr. Williams. “Since there is no known cause of breast cancer, early detection is the best line of defense.”

The Department of Radiology will provide the screenings from October 15 – 19 with scheduled appointments from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Provident is located at 500 E. 51st Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Williams encourages women to take charge of their health by conducting monthly self-breast exams, obtaining annual clinical breast exams and having annual mammograms. He feels that along with maintaining a balanced body mass index, proper diet and exercise, mammograms gives women and men the greatest opportunity to fight breast cancer. Statistics verify that in 2012, there will be an estimated 2,190 new cases of breast cancer in men as well.

According to the American Cancer Society, there were more than 2,971,610 female breast cancer survivors in the U.S. as of Jan. 1.  By 2022, that number is expected to reach 3.78 million.  By offering free mammograms for women who could otherwise not afford them, CCHHS hopes to inspire the courage needed to win this monumental battle.

Interested persons must be at least 40 years of age.