By: Kathy Hubbard
I just spent a wonderful week hiking Mt. Rainier with a friend who wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for her very first mammogram. No one was as surprised as she was that the scan found a lump. She had just turned forty and, she thought, in excellent health.
If I hadn’t had a DEXA scan when I was in my early sixties, I wouldn’t have known that I had osteoporosis and wouldn’t have known how to prevent further bone loss so that I am still able to hike today.
“Self-care can be difficult to fit into a busy schedule, so we’re making it easier and a little more fun!” Daniel Holland, Bonner General Health Ancillary Service Operations Director said. “Join us for Sip & Screen, with special Saturday screening mammogram appointments, DEXA appointments, drinks, treats, and a chance to win a spa package from Refined Aesthetics. Take a little time for yourself, prioritize your breast health, and celebrate checking one very important thing off your self-care list.”
The event is on Saturday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 208-265-3349 or go online to www.bonnergeneral.org/sip-screen to schedule your appointment. And the best part is that you don’t have to go alone, you can make it a party with your best female buddies.
Holland explained, “Your mammogram is an appointment with your future. Finding breast cancer early, before it has spread, can lead to more successful treatment and significantly better outcomes. In fact, the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer detected before it has spread is over 99%.”
If you’ve never had a DEXA scan, let me tell you, it’s my favorite. All you have to do is lie still. The tech and the equipment does all the work, and it only takes a few minutes. Your only assignment might be to stop taking calcium supplements 24 to 48 hours prior to the test.
Mammograms aren’t actually as bad as the bad jokes made about them, but they can be awkward. First of all, know that the tech will always be a female, and that she’s seen every size and shape of breast there is, so there’s no reason to be self-conscious.
She will, however, touch you. That’s so she can position your breast correctly for a complete and accurate scan. You’ll want to talk to the tech about how you’re feeling, and certainly you’ll tell her if you feel discomfort. She’s trained to put you at ease.
It’s always a good idea to schedule your appointment for a week or so after your period when your breasts are less sensitive. Be sure not to wear deodorant, antiperspirant, perfume, powder or lotions on your breast and underarm on the day of the exam. These products can show up on the mammogram and give you a wrong reading. If you forget, tell the tech and she’ll provide you with wipes.
“When it comes to breast cancer screening, technology matters,” Holland said. “At Bonner General Health, our state-of-the-art 3D mammography provides detailed images of the breast, allowing radiologists to examine breast tissue one layer at a time. This advanced technology can help detect more invasive cancers while reducing unnecessary callbacks, giving you greater confidence in your screening. It’s the gold standard in mammography and an important tool in finding breast cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful.”
You don’t need a referral from your primary care provider for a mammogram, but you do for the DEXA scan. After the screenings are completed, a radiologist will read both the scans and send a report to your primary care provider. BGH will also send you a report stating whether any follow up is necessary.
I’m keen on preventive screenings. I think we all know people who wished they’d had them done long before they actually did. But, like Holland said, it’s hard to prioritize self-care in our busy lives. But, what could be better than a taking a “girls” day, and don’t forget to bring your friends. Believe me, this is a fun party.
Holland gets the last word, “Make the time, get screened, and give yourself the advantage that early detection can provide.” Amen.
Kathy Hubbard was a charter member of Bonner General Health Foundation. She can be reached at [email protected]. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on October 6, 2026.