Sparks Women's Center Offers Extended Hours

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sparks Health System is encouraging women in our area to “think pink” and schedule a mammogram.

Early detection and treatment of cancer is important.  The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Organization recommends women undergo mammography screenings regularly beginning at age 40.  In addition, the group says women should receive clinical breast exams annually and perform self-exams monthly.

The Women’s Center at Sparks is making it more convenient to fit the screening into your schedule by offering special after-work appointment options for mammograms on Thursdays and Saturdays in October.  

Screenings will utilize new top-of-the-line digital mammography equipment that is now available at the Center.  Digital mammography is the newest technology available for breast cancer detection and is different from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and viewed.  The radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black and white values while reading the images.  These features allow the radiologist to better evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern.   

Regular appointment hours are from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Extended hours for screening appointments are Thursdays, October 20 and 27 from 5 – 7 p.m. and Saturdays, October 22, 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  To schedule an appointment, call (479) 441-4100 and select option 3.

The Women’s Center at Sparks is located in the Sparks Medical Plaza at 1500 Dodson Avenue in Fort Smith.  

For more information about Sparks Health System, visit www.SparksHealth.com.