October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Certainly, everything begins with awareness, whether it's the search for a cure, the best and latest treatment options, or very importantly, prevention. According to the American Cancer Society:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. Currently, the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer. This also means there is a 7 in 8 chance she will never have the disease.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, on our website this month, we'll endeavor to bring awareness to the latest in prevention, early detection, treatment options, and general education, so that you can be as informed as possible.

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Today, we're highlighting Prosser Memorial Health, a trusted healthcare provider in the region, who is offering some very impressive, cutting-edge technologies to detect cancer at the earliest possible point. According to the Prosser Memorial Health website:

Prosser Memorial Health offers Heightened Detail 3D Mammography in the Radiology Department. The Hologic Genius 3D Mammography exam allows providers to examine breast tissue layer by layer. This means fine details are more visible and no longer hidden by the tissue above or below. The Genius exam is currently the only mammogram FDA approved as superior for women with dense breasts. The unique Smart Curve Paddle provides more comfort and the Genius delivers a much faster image. It takes just 3.7 seconds as opposed to 10 seconds or more on a typical 3D machine.

Knowing that this type of progressive technology is available in our region should be reassuring to patients, who are concerned that they may be at risk, or if a woman is over 40, as PMH informs:

Prosser Memorial Health is a Mammography and CT Accredited Facility and currently the only provider in the Yakima Valley or Tri-Cities region offering Heightened Detail 3D Mammography with Smart Curve Technology. We are excited to offer this state-of-the-art technology to our patients. The American College of Radiology (ACR) recommends women start getting annual mammograms at age 40.

Mammographers agree that consistency is key in the management of breast health and that skipping a year or two in between mammograms is risky. Women's breasts change over a few years so it's not wise to put it off.

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If you'd like to inquire about scheduling a mammogram, learn more about Heightened Detail 3D Mammography, or other Diagnostic Imaging services at Prosser Memorial Health, call 786.5596 or visit prosserhealth.org.

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Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

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