In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Loretto Hospital offers free mammograms to uninsured and underinsured residents of the Austin community during the month of October. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among all women so far. Although the incidence of breast cancer is slightly lower among black women than white women, black women have a higher rate of breast cancer, possibly because cancer tends to be detected at a later stage in women of color compared to white. The five-year survival rate for black women diagnosed with breast cancer is 71 percent compared to 87 percent for white women. West Side Hospital offers the latest in breast tomosynthesis technology, which uses low-dose X-rays to produce a three-dimensional image of breast tissue, helping radiologists find cancer when it is most treatable. This Food and Drug Administration-approved technology is considered superior to conventional 2D mammography, especially for women with dense tissue. 3D images can separate breast tissue which can appear superimposed on 2D images. Free mammograms are available for Austinites living in postcodes 60651, 60644, 60624, 60623, and 60612. Women living outside these postcodes can enjoy reduced prices, $ 75 per mammogram, during the month of October . Certain restrictions apply. For more information, call 833-THL-LOVE or visit www.lorettohospital.org.
