COUSHATTA, La. -- October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And each week KTBS is bringing attention to the cause.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Prevention and detection are key in fighting the disease. Thatâs why Christus Health is bringing big city technology to rural communities like Coushatta.
Family history plays a role in breast cancer.
âPeople who do not breastfeed, obesity, smoking, all of those factors are linked with risk factors for breast cancer,â said Kayla Bryant, a board certified advanced practice nurse with Christus.
Prevention and early detection are vitally important.
âIf breast cancer is caught or detected later, it typically is more lethal,â Bryant said.
Breast self awareness can save a womanâs life. A change in the breast can mean cancer.
âThereâs many, many women who have fibrocystic breasts, so lots of little bitty cysts or lumps or bumps in those breasts,â explained Bryant. âBut itâs a new or different mass or lump that you notice thatâs typically the most common symptom of breast cancer.
Especially if itâs only on one side.
âThatâs something that doesnât go in pairs, normally," she said.
Annual mammograms are key in catching those changes in the breast.
âEvery woman starting at age 40, or sooner if she has any very specific family risk factors should get an annual mammogram,â said Bryant.
Many rural communities donât typically have access to basic primary preventative health care. The Christus Coushatta clinic brings that care to the community.
âWe see those patients who typically in the past have gotten left behind or almost forgotten about because they havenât had the means to get to just basic healthcare,â Bryant said.
So residents donât have to go to the big city to get their mammogram.
âWe do those locally here in Coushatta,â Bryant said. âA lot of times I can get your mammogram done the exact same day.â
âPeople are shocked that Coushatta has this technology here,â said Brandi Williams, a mammography technologist. âThey think they have to go to bigger cities to get this technology.â
The Coushatta location has the latest 3D mammogram technology.
âThe images are so much better,â Williams said. âSmall things can be caught with the 3D, where theyâre not seen so well with the 2D.â
Preventative screenings have dropped since the start of the pandemic. Some people fear COVID-19, and others have lost jobs and, therefore, insurance.
âCome see us at Coushatta. We will help you with the payments,â said Bryant. âDonât stress or worry about money at this time. Come see us, let evaluate you so we can help prevent breast cancer.â
Bryant hosts a womenâs health clinic on Mondays, alternating between Christus Coushatta and Ringgold locations.
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For more information on Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit KTBS.com/breasthealth.
Gloss