Join Atrium Health Navicent in Raising Awareness about Breast Cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and doctors at Atrium Health Navicent Peyton Anderson Cancer Center invite the community to help raise awareness about breast cancer by encouraging screening for early detection and treatment.

Accounting for about 30 percent of all new female cancers each year, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women. With an average lifetime risk of 13 percent, or 1 in 8 women, the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2023 about 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women, leading to about 43,700 deaths.

For many women, mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before a mass is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since 2007, breast cancer death rates have been steady in women younger than 50, but have continued to decrease in older women. The ACS believes these decreases are the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments.

“Technology allows us to detect breast cancer earlier than ever before, making additional treatment options available and leading to more patients living full, cancer-free lives,” said Dr. Anthony Scott, an Atrium Health Navicent surgical oncologist. “If you’ve been putting off getting a mammogram, or if you have questions about screening recommendations, this month is a great time to talk with your doctor and schedule a mammogram.”

Annual well-woman visits are a great time to ask your doctor about getting a mammogram. It’s recommended that all women have a baseline screening mammogram at age 40, and in some cases, women between the ages of 35 and 39 may also need a baseline mammogram.

To promote breast cancer awareness and education, Atrium Health Navicent will hold the following events during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

• Mammogram Marathon on Oct. 5: All Atrium Health Navicent mammography locations will host a Mammography Marathon from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment is necessary and walk-ins are welcome. All locations offer 3D mammography technology. Screening grants are available for uninsured and underinsured patients. Call 478-633-7020 to check grant eligibility.

Locations include:

• Atrium Health Navicent Breast Care Center, 800 First St., Suite 310, Macon

• Atrium Health Navicent Imaging and Laboratory, 1650 Hardeman Ave., Macon

• Atrium Health Navicent Imaging Northwest, 5925 Zebulon Road, Macon

• Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, 821 North Cobb St., Milledgeville

• Atrium Health Navicent Peach, 1960 Ga. 247 Connector, Byron

• Atrium Health Navicent Imaging Monroe, 120 North Lee St., Suite B, Forsyth

• Pink Ribbon Car Painting on Oct. 6: Get a pink ribbon painted on your car to raise awareness for breast cancer and show your support for survivors. Car painting takes place from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the green, purple and blue parking decks at Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center, 777 Hemlock St., Macon.

• Breast Cancer Survivor Sneaker Ball on Oct. 12: Party with your fellow breast cancer survivors in style at the sneaker ball, happening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Atrium Health Navicent Peyton Anderson Cancer Center.

• Pink Alliance Monthly Support Group Meeting on Oct. 26: The Pink Alliance is a safe space for breast cancer patients and survivors to share feelings and concerns, and receive emotional support through small group discussion. It meets at noon on the third Thursday of each month at Atrium Health Navicent Peyton Anderson Cancer Center. Call 478-633-8130 for additional information.

Atrium Health Navicent Breast Care Center, a facility of Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center, has been designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology’s Commission on Quality and Safety and the Commission on Breast Imaging. It is also accredited by The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and has been a National Consortium of Breast Centers Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence since 2013.

Atrium Health Navicent Peyton Anderson Cancer Center provides the latest technology for the early detection of breast cancer, including state-of-the-art 3D mammography and new SCOUT technology, as well as 3D biopsies, same-day biopsies, breast ultrasounds, 3D mammography, wireless breast localization biopsies, molecular breast imaging and breast MRI. High-risk hereditary screenings are also available.

The caring and experienced team of specialists at Atrium Health Navicent Peyton Anderson Cancer Center offer services ranging from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship support. If you or a loved one has concerns about cancer risk factors, available screenings or cancer care, contact Atrium Health Navicent Peyton Anderson Cancer Center at 478-633-3000. To find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org and click “Find A Doctor.”

About Atrium Health Navicent

Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated,nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health serves nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplnts, burn and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs nearly 150,000 team members across 67 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $5 billion in annual community benefits.