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

A new pink ribbon shaped flowerbed is now planted in front of Singing River Health System’s Ocean Springs Imaging Center.

The Ocean Springs Garden Club donated and planted the pink snap-dragon flowers outside of the Imaging Center as part of their Plant it Pink project, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness during the month of October. 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. “One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and thanks to the Ocean Springs Garden Club, anyone passing the Ocean Springs Medical Park on Hwy 90 will see the 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.”

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to increase awareness of the importance of early detection and screening, Singing River Health System is offering discounted mammogram screenings at three locations September 19 through November 18.

Mammograms can be used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. This type of mammogram is called a screening mammogram. Screening mammograms usually involve two x-ray images of each breast. The x-ray images make it possible to detect tumors that cannot be felt. Finding breast cancer early reduces your risk of dying from the disease by 25-30% or more. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they’re at high risk.

Women may receive this digital screening which includes the mammogram, computer-aided detection, and radiologist reading for $80 at Ocean Springs Medical Park, Singing River Medical Park in Pascagoula and Cedar Lake.

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. Doctors recommend that women have regular clinical breast exams and mammograms for early detection.

Payment is required at the time of service. For more information, or to make an appointment, call 228-809-2355.