CINCINNATI -- Mercy Health's Jewish Hospital Breast Center is working to take the anxiety out of receiving a mammogram and helping women feel pampered during their wellness checks by offering breakfast, flowers, a free gift and a hand massage every Friday in October.
“Last week we saw 56 women between the hours of 7 and 10:30,” Jewish Hospital Women’s Center manager Rebeca Ingram said.
The event at is designed to remove the anxiety some women experience during yearly health exams. Studies suggest some women avoid having mammograms because they fear the pain and the possible outcome.
“That’s why we do mammograms, and that’s why we do them every year because we want to find these early breast cancers,” Breast Center director of medical imaging Dr. Elizabeth Weaver said.
Dr. Weaver says the patients can now get the results of their mammograms the same day. Jewish Hospital is one of the few programs in the United States that offers the service.
“You’ll receive the results of your screening mammogram at the time of your exam,” Dr. Weaver said. “Then, if you need additional views, we’ll tell you then.”
Jewish Hospital employee Rebecca Ingram knows first-hand about the importance of early detection. Earlier this year, one of her scans showed what turned out to be stage 0 breast cancer.
“Eight weeks ago, I had my screening mammogram, and Dr. Weaver looked at my films and called me back,” Ingram said.
She advised women not to miss a year because that time could be the difference between a bump in the road and a very long journey.
“You never think it’s gonna be you,” Ingram said. “But when you do, you’re so grateful that you caught it early.”
Ingram is in her last week of radiation treatments after surgery and is doing well.
The American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging recommends women have annual screening mammograms starting at age 40.
