C.O. florists offer flowers for mammograms

This month is all about pink.

And here in Central Oregon, flowers too.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and local florists are joining medical professionals to remind women about the importance of regular mammograms.

Throughout the month, every woman screened with a digital mammogram at Bend Memorial Clinic will receive flowers donated by local florists.

BMC oncologist Heather West said the flowers are all about thanking women for putting health first.

“Here we can help you not have a disease,” West said. “Or help you to have a very limited stage of a disease that could otherwise be life-threatening. And here we are thanking you for doing something for yourself.”

West said all women should get their first mammogram by the age of 40. But women who have family members with the disease should be screened 10 years sooner than that family member was diagnosed.

West said women should have a mammogram every one to two years.