SAVANNAH, Ga. () — It’s the third of the month and we’re sending a gentle reminder for you to do your self breast exam and set up your annual mammogram.

St. Joseph’s/Candler mammography technologist, Kimberly Jones-Dowdell said you win by making your breast health a priority. 

“Getting a mammogram can save your life,” Jones-Dowdell said. “The earlier that you have your mammogram.  If there’s anything there that the doctors can go ahead and find out if it’s benign or if they need to do further tests.”

Jones-Dowell is primarily responsible for doing mammograms on the traveling mobile mammography bus.  

“We have the 3D technology,” she said. “If you would look at it as if you’re taking slices of the breast.  So, the doctor is able, the radiologist, to see slices of the breast tissue. So, layers if you would and he can detect and see if there’s anything there in those layers”

She’s passionate about making sure you’re comfortable before your mammogram.

“I just let them know that it’s not bad, that I’m not there to hurt them,” she told . “If it’s too tight for them they can tell me, you know.  It’s not something that has to be painful.”

You may have noticed ‘s Kim Gusby having her mammogram in the video.

Tens of thousands of mammograms are performed at st. Joseph’s/Candler every year.

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