DECATUR, Ill. (WAND)- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. During the month of October, raising awareness of the disease is critical. 

Mammography coordinator with Decatur Memorial Hospital, Karen Oesch, stresses the importance of getting screened and early detection. 

Oesch also shared how breast cancer is impacting people in Decatur alone.

"...out of 6,899 screening mammograms that we have done this year, just routine screenings, we've identified 57 cancers, and they just came in for their yearly checkup, and yet we found it," said Oesch. 

Oesch says those results were from people getting early detections, which significantly increases one's survival rate. Early detection has a survival rate of up to 96%, where as a lump you can physically feel has a survival rate of 20%.

Breast cancer can impact anyone, despite family heath history and current health status. These misconceptions should not discourage women from getting a mammogram. 

When it comes to women of color, Oesch says she has noticed not enough women of color coming to get screened. Women of color are also at higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Oesch and her team are working on getting more through the doors to get checked. 

"We're working really hard to try to figure out some ways to correct that, because it is a problem. And we encourage every woman to get a mammogram, but a lot of times, my women of color just don't come. They don't come for their yearly checkups, and we want to change that," said Oesch. 

Memorial Hospitals are still offering Mammogram Mondays through October. If you do not have insurance, you can still get a free mammogram. To schedule you an appointment, or for more information visit, here. 

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