In farming, preventative maintenance keeps machinery running. Doctors and healthcare professionals recommend preventative screenings to keep your body healthy. Lori Tuttle, a mammographer with 23 years of experience, reminds rural women that their bodies require the same level of care.
Tuttle grew up milking cows on a dairy farm. She knows firsthand the self-sacrificing nature of women in agriculture. She observes that while farm women are experts at managing the health of their families, their livestock, and even the family dog, they often land at the bottom of their to-do lists.
“I think even as women, you take care of everybody else,” Tuttle said. “Help yourself, though. Get in there. Get in line. Help yourself first, too. Don’t be afraid to make your appointments.”
Tuttle’s passion for early detection is personal. Her mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor, having successfully battled the disease at ages 45 and 65. Because the cancer was caught early both times, her mother is preparing to celebrate her 77th birthday this year.
In order to bridge the gap for those in remote areas, Marshfield Clinic operates three Mobile Mammography Screening Units. These units bring the same high-tech equipment and radiologists found in major clinics directly to rural clinics, businesses, and even migrant camps. Thus, eliminating the hurdles of long drives and complex hospital parking.
It is recommended that women over the age of 40 receive a yearly mammogram. Additionally, Tuttle emphasizes that the most critical tool a radiologist has is the ability to look at a patient’s history.
“In the mammography world, comparison is the huge check for your breast,” Tuttle explained. “They’ll compare one x-ray to the next and see if there’s any changes from year to year.”
Bringing modern medicine to the farm gate, Tuttle hopes the women who keep the rural economy moving can enjoy the fruits of their labor for years to come.
Leave a Reply