Skip to Content

Sarah Bush Lincoln Alerts

Breast Health

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in this country (other than skin cancer). Each year, more than 211,000 American women learn they have this disease.

Guidelines for Early Detection
The American Medical Association, The American College of Radiology, and The American Cancer Society recommend the following three-step approach to supporting good breast health:

  1. Mammography - Beginning at age 40, women should have a mammogram every year.

  2. Breast Self-Exam - Beginning at age 20, women should examine their breasts every month.

  3. Clinical Breast Exam - Women ages 20-39 should have a breast exam performed by their health care provider every three years. Women ages 40 and older should have a breast exam performed by their health care provider every year.  

What is a Mammogram?

The Women’s Imaging Center at Sarah Bush Lincoln offers the latest in imaging technology - 3D mammography - plus a comfortable, spacious and private environment for the best possible mammography experience. Curved paddles on the Imaging Center’s mammography units are expected to decrease the discomfort that some women experience with mammography and thereby improve patients’ overall experiences.

Mammography breast imaging is of particular importance in the early detection of breast cancer because it is fast, accurate and inexpensive. SBL offers mammography at the Women's Imaging Center, located right next to the SBL Gift Shop near Entrance A, and in its mobile mammography van.

Mobile Mammography

With access being cited as one of the main reasons women don’t have regular mammograms, Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Mobile Mammography unit was developed with help from BankCheck, a collaborative effort between nine area banks; the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women’s Health; a rural Health Initiatives Partnership Program grant from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Together they help to support a van which provides mammograms. For women, who have not been regularly receiving mammograms and health screens, the mobile mammography unit travels to area county health departments, businesses and SBL’s extended campus locations to provide access to women living in those communities. 3D mammography is also available on the SBL mobile mammography van that travels throughout the region.

The mobile mammography unit travels to the following counties: Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, and Moultrie. Take the mammography quiz.

To schedule a mammogram either at the Health Center or in the mobile unit, call SBL Central Scheduling at 217-258-2588. View the Mobile Mammo Van schedule.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Mammograms often detect breast changes before women notice symptoms. The following symptoms, however, should be reported to a physician:

• A painful lump or thickening in your breast or surrounding tissue
• Any thickening or swelling that persists
• Nipple inversion or retraction
• Skin dimpling or puckering
• Any spontaneous discharge from the nipple

Breast Prostheses and Mastectomy Bras

SBL Home Medical Equipment offers Mastectomy Services to help pave the road to recovery for many women by helping to restore their appearance and renew their self-confidence following breast surgery.

For more information contact SBL Home Medical Equipment:
217-235-0660 - Mattoon • 300 Coles Centre Parkway
217-347-7372 - Effingham • 903 N. Maple St.
618-699-4502 - Vandalia • 1611 Veterans Ave, Suite T

Fitting appointments can be scheduled by calling 1-800-345-3191.