Ocean Springs Garden Club and Singing River Health System Raise Awareness for Breast Cancer and Early Detection

A colorful floral reminder of the importance of mammograms for women is now planted in front of Singing River Health System’s Ocean Springs Imaging Center.

The Ocean Springs Garden Club donated and planted a ribbon shaped flowerbed of pink snap-dragon flowers outside of the Imaging Center as part of their “Plant it Pink” project, commemorating October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is the club’s sixth year donating the plants.

“Plant It Pink is a great opportunity to raise awareness,” said Karen Ehlers, Director of Radiology for Singing River. “One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and thanks to the Ocean Springs Garden Club, anyone passing by our Imaging Center on Hwy 90 will see these beautiful pink snapdragons in the shape of a Pink Ribbon. Seeing this great display will have people talking and hopefully inspire them to get their annual mammogram.”

Mammogram screenings can detect breast cancer early in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease, with digital x-ray images making it possible to detect tumors that cannot be felt. Finding breast cancer early reduces a woman’s risk of dying from the disease by 25-30% or more.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. The National Cancer Institute estimates more than 192,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

To increase awareness of the importance of early detection and screening, Singing River Health System is offering discounted mammogram screenings at three locations through November 18. The discounted fee of only $80 includes a digital screening, Computer Aided Detection technology, and review by a board certified Radiologist. Appointments are available by calling 228-809-2355 for screenings in Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, or Cedar Lake.