The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Foster County Public Health offices on Main Street in Carrington will again be covered in bras during the month of October to raise awareness for breast cancer.
You may recall seeing clotheslines of bras on Main Street businesses in Carrington last October.
Well, they're back, and this year Foster County Public Health, CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington and the Foster County Independent are teaming up to raise the line even higher and spread awareness farther.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we're taking this opportunity to raise awareness about breast health, highlight the importance of screenings and early detection, and provide support to local people living with breast cancer.
To show your support for the cause, request a Breast Health Awareness Support Kit, which includes a laminated sign, twine and one bra. Start your clothesline of bras in your front yard, string them across the facade of your business, or hang them from your fence or deck.
To participate, contact Foster County Public Health at (70) 652-3087, email Robin Simonson at rlsimonson@nd.gov or message them on Facebook. The program is open to any Foster County resident, which includes the communities of Carrington, Grace City, Glenfield and McHenry, as well as farmsteads and facilities anywhere in between.
According to breastcancer.org, a woman in the U.S. today has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer over her lifetime and a 1 in 39 chance of dying from breast cancer. Nearly 30% of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer later develop metastatic breast cancer.
Breast cancer doesn't just affect women, either, as one out of every 100 people diagnosed with breast cancer is a man.
Early detection is the best prevention
A woman's initial mammogram, which is called her baseline, should take place around the age of 40.
"Our most asked question is, 'How long in life is it recommended that women still have mammograms done?'" said Tara Rau, Imaging Supervisor at CHI Carrington. "If you schedule a mammogram in Carrington, she will likely be the person conducting the screening.
Rau said she encourages patients to ask themselves the following questions:
1. What does your quality of life look like for the next 10 years?
2. If a mammogram showed cancer, would you commit to treatment which could consist of surgery, chemo, and/or radiation?
Nearly 70% of CHI Carrington's mammogram patients are 60 or older.
Only 10% of women receiving mammograms at CHI Carrington are between the ages of 40 and 49, although at age 40 all women are recommended to begin screenings.
In 2023, 569 mammograms were done at CHI Carrington. Of those, 551 were screenings and 18 were diagnostic studies. Of the 60 patients who were recalled for additional imaging, 17 of those underwent a biopsy and six were malignant, or cancerous.
Find out if you're eligible for free screenings
Most insurance plans cover the cost of annual breast health screenings, and there are also programs available for those without insurance or whose insurance doesn't cover the full cost of detection.
Slightly more than 17,000 North Dakota women could be eligible for Women's Way and receive breast and cervical screenings.
Women's Way is a program offered locally at Foster County Public Health and may provide a way for eligible North Dakota women to pay for breast and cervical cancer screenings. Women's Way may also provide patient navigation services to help women overcome barriers and get timely access to quality care. Limited diagnostic procedures are also available to women enrolled in Women's Way.
Other women's health screenings and reproductive health services are also available at Foster County Public Health one day per month. Call Central Valley Health District at (701) 252-8130 to schedule an appointment in Carrington.
Find out if you're eligible for Women's Way. Click the link to learn more and take a short eligibility quiz: https://www.hhs.nd.gov/health/women/womens-way/who-eligible-womens-way
Donate to local causes
If you'd like to support breast cancer research and programs that support people living with breast cancer, consider donating directly to organizations that do the work. CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington is one of those local facilities who directly support local people diagnosed with, undergoing treatment for and living with breast cancer.
CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington has a Breast Cancer Assistance Fund that provides financial and emotional support for breast cancer patients.
All patients that start with a screening mammogram at CHI Carrington and need an ultrasound receive a gas card. The gas card helps offset the cost of travel to have an ultrasound completed, as Carrington does not offer the additional imaging.
In the past year, CHI Carrington has sent out $2,200 in gas cards for patients who needed an ultrasound.
In addition, patients diagnosed with breast cancer receive a care package, including a gas card, restaurant gift card, blanket, water bottle, socks, hot/cold packs, journal or book and other small items.
During the month of October, every person who schedules a mammogram at CHI Carrington receives a small gift.
To donate to CHI's assistance fund, for which all donations stay local, send a check to CHI St. Alexius Health Foundation, 800 4th St N, Carrington, ND 58421. Put "Breast Cancer Assistance Fund" in the memo line.
