Essentia Health’s VIPink event to highlight breast cancer awareness month Oct. 4

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Essentia Health is commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness month with their VI-Pink event, otherwise known as the Breast Event of the Year, this Wednesday from 5-7:30 p.m. in lobby of the Essentia Health St. Mary’s Clinic in Detroit Lakes.

The event will feature a couple keynote presentations from Dr. Aubrey Park Skinner, an Essentia Health breast surgeon from Duluth.

Tanya Olson, imaging manager for Essentia Health in Detroit Lakes, said middle-aged women should start thinking about making their first annual appointments, if they haven’t already.

“The recommendation is at age 40 women come in for annual mammograms,” said Olson. “Unless there is a family history, you can certainly start those earlier.”

She also said they’ll be offering walk-in mammograms during the event and even those who may be a little scared to complete their first annual screening should come to the event and just tour the facility to ease their minds before they schedule their exam.

“One of the things we are doing that night is walk-in mammograms,” she said. “If you or a friend hasn’t gotten around to scheduling your mammogram … we’re doing walk-in mammograms. So, if you have ten or 15 minutes to spare, come in and we’ll get it done. Even the women who are maybe a little apprehensive of having a mammogram, if you want to just come and take a tour to see what it’d be like, you don’t have to have it done that evening. But this is a good opportunity for us to show you what it’s like to have a mammogram.” 

She also said Essentia Health St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes was the first clinic in their network to install a 3D mammogram machine, which takes more layered, detailed readings then a typical 2D machine.

“It just takes smaller pictures, which can be more precise in finding those really tiny cancers,” said Olson. “And we know that finding cancers small is our best way to save lives.” 

Other activities during the VI-Pink event include: bra fittings by Curvy Divas; make-and-take floral arrangements; and a breast cancer survivor walk, which will honor the stories of lakes area cancer survivors.

The VI-Pink event on Oct. 4 is free to the public and anyone with questions, or to RSVP for the event should call: 218-314-7866.