Northwest Health Wound Care Centers Go Pink for October

10/13/2021

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual nationwide event in October to increase awareness and support of breast cancer and breast cancer research. Emphasis is placed greatly on education, early detection screenings and community support for those affected. National Mammography Day will take place on Oct. 15, highlighting the importance of screenings for women’s health.

Breast cancer has affected many of our lives and the wound care centers at Northwest Health are pledging to “Go Pink” in support of survivors and in honor of those who we have lost to this disease.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, apart from skin cancers, with statistics showing that around 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Currently, there are more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., including patients who are undergoing treatment and those who have completed it.

Breast cancer treatments have continued to improve throughout the years with support and research funding. The most common treatment methods are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Breast cancer treatment is comprehensive and includes a team of specialized surgeons and oncologists to help the patient receive the best care possible.

While treatments are often successful in eliminating breast cancer, they can have damaging effects months or even years after treatment has concluded. Our wound care centers are committed to restoring health and improving the quality of life of cancer survivors. We specialize in treating non-healing wounds from surgery, compromised skin grafts or surgical flaps and symptoms occurring as a result of radiation therapy.

One method used at our wound centers is hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. During the course of treatment, 100 percent pure oxygen is breathed inside a pressurized chamber, helping blood to carry more oxygen to organs and tissues. This therapy is indicated by the Underwater and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) as a treatment for a variety of cancer-related complications. These include non-healing wounds, compromised skin grafts or flaps or soft tissue damage caused by radiation therapy.

HBO therapy works by increasing oxygen levels in damaged tissues, stimulating growth of new blood vessels and enhancing immune cell function. These are all important factors that contribute to wound healing and increase overall quality of life in patients. Many studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the many benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating cancer-related complications.

Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville Wound and Hyperbaric Center is located at 2900 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 140 and the Northwest Medical Center – Springdale center is located at 706A Quandt Ave. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Bentonville center at (479) 553-3100 or the Springdale center at (479) 757-2030. No referral is required.

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