News

Mammo Party makes it easier for first-time mammograms

BSA Harrington Breast Center recently held its annual Mammo Party, a community event that emphasizes the importance for women 40 years and older to get an annual mammogram. Participants received a mammogram and enjoyed some fun festivities, goody bags, scrumptious treats and a drawing for door prizes.

Assistant District Attorney of Randall County and Amarillo resident Tracie Reilly found it very easy to sign up for the Mammo Party. “I just clicked the event notice on Facebook and registered,” she said. “They called me later, and we scheduled the time for my mammogram.”

Positive Attitude and Early Diagnosis Helps Woman Fight Breast Cancer

Reneay Palmer has a family history of breast cancer on her mom’s side. Knowing this put her at higher risk for developing breast cancer, Palmer was very diligent about getting a mammogram after turning 40. “I was sent to BSA Harrington Breast Center after an abnormal result from my very first mammogram,” explained Palmer.

Breast Cancer Survivor Urges Women to Get Regular Mammograms

It had been years since Charlotte Willett had her last mammogram. She always seemed to be too busy for an appointment, but after noticing a lump in her right breast and under her arm, she scheduled an appointment at BSA Harrington Breast Center.

Texas Woman’s Instinct Led to Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Nearly five years ago, Debbie Yarnold, noticed a faint trace of blood after using the restroom. Being postmenopausal, this caused concern and prompted Yarnold to make an appointment with her gynecologist. After several exams, Yarnold was diagnosed with stage 1B ovarian cancer.

“At first, I was told that when women age, they experience dryness which could result in bleeding,” said Yarnold. “I was given an estrogen cream to use, but when the spotting didn’t get better, I came back in for a CA-125 blood test.”

Unexpected cancer diagnosis leads 37-year-old woman to BSA Harrington Cancer Center

When Julia Bennett began experiencing shoulder pain in April 2018, the 37-year-old never imagined it would lead to a life-threatening diagnosis.

“I started having pain and numbness in my shoulder that would go down my arm,” Bennett said. “I wasn’t sure where it was coming from.”

Bennett saw doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists to try to find the cause of her pain and still had no answers.

BSA Harrington Cancer Center offers low-dose CT chest scan for lung cancer screening

Every 2.3 minutes someone is diagnosed with lung cancer, the second most common cancer among both men and women in the United States.

BSA Harrington Cancer Center offers a low-dose Cat Scan (CT) as a recommended screening for those at high-risk for developing lung cancer.

The low-dose CT scan is recommended for people who have a history of heavy smoking, are current or former cigarette smokers who have quit within the last 15 years or are between 55 and 74 years old.

Early Mammograms and Genetic Testing for the Win

Mammograms become routine beginning at age 40 for most women, but Michelle Parsons of Amarillo had a good reason to start sooner.

“I'm adopted so I didn't know a lot about my family history,” shared Parsons. “At the age of 38, I requested a baseline mammogram.”

Grandmother of Seven's Positive Attitude Can't Be Beat by Cancer

Eleanor Sitton is a wife, mother and grandmother seven times over. She keeps busy with her family and volunteering but still makes time to go to her annual mammogram appointment at BSA Harrington Breast Center. This year’s exam would change Sitton’s life forever.

Abnormal images on her mammogram exam led to a diagnosis of breast cancer on June 26.

Lifesaving Information: Which Cancer Screenings to Schedule

Sometimes making check-up appointments and getting blood drawn doesn’t feel all that important with the hustle and bustle of life. Cancer screenings get pushed to the next year or worse, are forgotten entirely. However, getting screenings is one of the most essential things both men and women can do for their health because the sooner you have all the information, the better.

Check the lists below to see which cancer screenings should be done at which time of life and when you should discuss with your physician so you can be proactive about your health.

• Skin Cancer

Texas Man Diagnosed with Rectal Cancer Following Colonoscopy

In the United States, one in every 22 men will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. After a routine colonoscopy ordered by his primary care physician, Michael Smith, 56, discovered that he was the one in 22.

“My primary care doctor knew I was anemic and set up a colonoscopy at BSA,” Smith shared.

Following his colonoscopy, Smith received the news that he had a cancerous, 5-inch tumor in his rectum that was growing through his rectal wall. Smith was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer.