Saline Health System to host breast cancer awareness event

Bosom Buddies Bash spotlights the need for breast cancer early detection.

BENTON, Ark. (October 10, 2024) – Sandy George and her daughter, Missy Bishop, share a lot of meaningful family traditions: herb gardening, decorating, design. When Bishop asks her mom for a recipe, it usually means that George comes over to cook it by memory, and the mother and daughter duo measure out all the ingredients to write it down for future generations.

Over the years, they have come to value another important family tradition: getting their annual mammograms at Saline Memorial Hospital.  

That’s because Sandy George is a breast cancer survivor. About 11 years ago, she came in for what she thought was going to be a routine mammogram. This time, she was called back in for an additional follow up, and a biopsy revealed that the findings were cancerous. Thankfully, after a lumpectomy and radiation treatment, she is now living cancer free. She said she is forever grateful to Patti Chilton and the mammography team at Saline Memorial Hospital for catching the cancer in early stages.

“Early detection saves lives,” George said.

Statistics have supported her belief in the power of early detection. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for woman with localized cancer, which is cancer that has not yet spread to any other area of the body, is 99%. The survival rate for regional cancer that has spread to nearby organs drops to 86%, and distant cancer that has spread to other regions of the body falls to 31%.

“Early detection of breast cancer is key to successful treatment and recovery,” said Dr. Ralynn Brann, OB-GYN at Saline Women’s Clinic. “So, if you are over the age of 40, or have a family history of breast cancer, and have never had a mammogram, call today to schedule your baseline scan. And, once you start, don’t stop. Perform monthly self-exams, and no matter how busy life gets, make time for your annual mammogram. It could save your life.”

To raise awareness about breast cancer and the need for mammography, Saline Memorial Hospital is hosting the Bosom Buddies Bash event from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Those who attend the event will get free pampering, like hair tinsel from Wild Ivy Salon and lip and hand treatments from Mary Kay consultant Emily Lewis. Vendors, like Color Street consultant Madi Smith, Daylight Nutrition, Emily Lane, Raven Candle, Sedley’s Southern Pantry and Sherry D’s, will be onsite with samples, door prizes and/or products for purchase.

Attendees can also learn more about breast cancer and women’s health from local healthcare professionals, like Dr. Lin Chen from Genesis Blood and Cancer Institute, as well as providers from Saline Women’s Clinic: Brann, Wendy Bennett, APRN, and Dr. Angela Myles.

The hospital’s breast imaging team will be doing mammograms with extended hours. Mammograms should be scheduled in advance by calling 501.776.6820 or by speaking with a primary care provider. Anyone who needs a primary care provider can contact 501.387.0163 to get connected.

Attendees will also have opportunities to win prizes and to support the American Cancer Society.

“We know that as women, we often have a tendency to put aside concerns about our own health because we are busy taking care of others,” said Lisa Hyde, the hospital’s diagnostic imaging director. “The idea of Bosom Buddies Bash is that we are coming together as friends and family to support each other and encourage each other to make our own healthcare needs, like getting annual screenings, a priority.”

Through her mom’s experience, Bishop learned the value of mammography, and that was further reiterated a few years ago when an abnormal finding was discovered during her own mammogram. Thankfully, it was not cancerous.

“We know we can trust the team at Saline Memorial Hospital to take care of us,” Bishop said. “We are both committed to staying on top of our health so that we can enjoy more time together and with our family, friends and loved ones.”

Saline Health System is made up of Saline Memorial Hospital, a 177-bed acute care facility, and Saline Clinics, a network of both primary care and specialty care clinics. The hospital is accredited through The Joint Commission for meeting quality and safety standards, the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, the MBSAQIP as a bariatric surgery center, Optum in the Bariatric Centers of Excellence network, CARF as a rehabilitation center and the AASM as a sleep center. For more information about Saline Memorial Hospital, please call 501.776.6000 or visit SalineMemorial.org. For more information about LifePoint Health, visit LifePointHealth.net.