The Excelsior Springs Hospital is offering free breast cancer awareness tumblers to those who receive a mammogram during October. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the hospital encourages women to get a mammogram.

Tonya Deason, director of radiology at the hospital, talked about why it is important to get a mammogram.

“Your breast tissue can change, and things in your life can change so fast that we just don’t want things to get out of control. We just want to make sure we (women) are advocating for our own health,” said Deason.

Deason also talked about when and how often people should get mammograms.

“Women should start getting mammograms at the age of 40, unless there are preexisting conditions,” she said. “But they should get them every year.”

The Excelsior Springs Hospital Pink Ribbon Fund is helping make mammograms accessible to those who cannot afford them. Deason explained the fund in more detail.

“That is a fund that is set up through our hospital that benefits the women in our community. You have to either live or work in Excelsior Springs to get that fund,” she said.

“It pays for either a mammogram screening or a diagnostic, if they are having some issues,” Deason said.

She also explained why it is important for Excelsior Springs to have the fund.

“There’s a lot of people that are in Excelsior that are either underinsured or uninsured and this helps them get the care that they need,” Deason said.

To schedule an appointment for a mammogram at the Excelsior Springs Hospital, call 816-629-2700. Walk-ins are welcome.

For more information about the Pink Ribbon Fund and to fill out an application, call Erica Eckersley at 816-6292761.