Womens Health
Women spend most of their lives taking care of others, while often neglecting to take good care of themselves.
It's not always easy to be everything to everbody and still make time for yourself.
That's why Share is proud to offer a number of routine women's health services with the comfort and convenience you would expect from your local provider, as well as some of the latest advances in diagnostic services.
For more information, scroll down or click on the issues listed below and find out how Share can help you take care of yourself for a change.
 Breast Health - FREE GIFT with digital mammogram during the month of October - National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Bone Health
Cervical Health
Cardiovascular Health
Colorectal Health
Breast Health
Did you know that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime?
It's true. The chances of you or someone you know developing breast cancer are actually pretty high.
The good news is that with early detection, more and more women are able to beat breast cancer.
And since early detection is the key, Share is very proud to offer digital mammography services.
Digital mammography is the latest technology in breast cancer detection. Digital technology produces sharper images, capable of identifying even the smallest of tumors.
Mammograms are recommended on a yearly basis for women over the age of 40, but may be appropriate for younger women if there is a family history of breast cancer.
To schedule your digital mammogram, call (580) 430-3370. For your routine annual mammogram, there is no need for a physician's order.
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Bone Health
Did you know that fractures from osteoporosis (bone disease) impact twice as many women as men?
Women are more prone to osteoporosis for a few reasons.
One is that their bones start out with a lower density than men. Another is that women typically live longer than men. And most people know that after menopause, the drop in estrogen levels accelerates bone loss. The most susceptible women are slender with small frames since weight bearing actually strengthens bones.
The good news is that there are several ways for you and your doctor to keep your bones healthy and strong.
Many times, in order to check for osteoporosis, your doctor will want to measure your bone strength with what is called a bone density test.
Share Medical Center measures bone density with it's 16-slice CT Scanner, which takes images in slices, producing a high quality picture of your bones density.
Share's bone density testing is set up for long-term monitoring of your overall bone health which is very important to most physicians.
You will need a physician's order to receive a bone density test at Share, so ask your doctor about your options.
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Cervical Health
Did you know that at one time, cervical cancer was the leading cause of death among women?
Yes, but much has changed since the widespread use of the pap smear test. The incidence of cervical cancer is now greatly reduced.
The pap smear is a test used to detect signs of cancer in the cervix.
Women over the age of 18 should have a pap smear once a year.
As with other types of cancer, early detection is essential to beating the disease.
Dr. Pamela Garner provides this service for Share Medical Center or you can ask your own doctor about your options.
You may schedule your appointment with Dr. Garner by calling (580) 430-3345.
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Cardiovascular Health
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women?
Though often thought of as a man's disease, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in women in the United States.
And that is likely why it's been so dangerous for women. Until recently, there has been little awareness of the impact of heart health in women.
Heart attack and stroke are the two most common types of cardiovascular disease and each is worsened when your heart and lungs become unable to supply much needed oxygen to the rest of the body, including your brain.
You need to make sure your arteries do not become clogged with constricting plaque, which can often occur with high cholesterol.
You also need to make sure your lungs function well enough to take in all the oxygen you need so it can be circulated throughout the body.
There are a few simple tests that Share provides to show how well you distribute oxygen throughout your body.
Cholesterol tests are available in the lab at Share and are a good general predictor of cardiovascular health.
Pulmonary Function Tests, or PFTs, are provided by Share's Respiratory Therapy department and they help to determine your overall lung health, a key component in cardiovascular health.
While there are predictors such as obesity or smoking, cardiovascular disease is not as clear-cut in women as men, so talk to your doctor about your options for caring for your own cardiovascular health.
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Colorectal Health
Did you know that colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer related death among women?
But like with many types of cancer, if caught early, there are definitely proven treatment options available to help you in a fight against cancer.
Share offers two services that can help to identify colorectal cancer.
The Hemoccult Test is a simple test to detect blood in your stool, which can possibly be a sign of cancer. The test comes in a packet which you can administer yourself in the privacy of your own home by following the simple instructions.
Once finished, continue to follow the instructions in the packet to return to the SMC Surgery department. We'll let you know what we find, if anything.
A doctor's order is not needed for the Hemoccult Test, so feel free to call Share's Surgery Department at (580) 430-3363 for more information or to get your own test.
The Share Surgery Department also offers Colonoscopies for a more in depth examination of your colorectal health.
These are provided by Donald Ransom, D.O. and your doctor will need to order this procedure. So, talk to her or him about your options.
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