KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Medical Group is scheduled to hold the 4th annual “Mammothon,” 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 6, at the Keesler Medical Center.
The event is open to anyone eligible for care at Keesler, and will feature health screenings and information for all ages and genders. During the “Mammothon,” appointments are not required.
“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to help promote awareness and preventative care we’ve been holding these Mammothons,” said Kerri Hudson, 81st Diagnostic and Therapeutics Squadron chief of mammography. “It’s so important to make getting checked easy, since the only way to prevent breast cancer is to find it at its earliest stage.”
“Some people aren’t able to schedule these screenings because of work or time, so we’re giving people an opportunity to get multiple things taken care of without worrying about scheduling appointments,” added Tech. Sgt. Victoria Cortez, 81st MDTS mammography NCO in charge.
The “Mammothon” has expanded its roster of walk-in exams available to include:
-Mammograms
-Clinical breast exams
-Bone density exams
-Skin cancer screening
-Oral cancer screening
-Lung cancer CT screening
-Pap smears
-Carotid artery and aortic aneurysm screening
-Eye exams and Glaucoma exams
-Flu shots and shot record review
-Blood pressure and diabetes screening
-Colonoscopy scheduling
“We’re working to reduce barriers and enable people to take care of themselves more easily,” said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Matthew Barchie, 81st MDTS mammography officer in charge.
Since the amount of screenings and participating clinics has grown, a check-in area will be set up in the Don Wylie Auditorium. Attendees will be able to receive information on the services offered and directions to the clinics.
For more information on the “Mammothon,” call the mammography clinic at 228-376-0475 or 228-376-4826.