Oroville Hospital Urges Women to Get Potentially Lifesaving Screenings During Breast Cancer Awareness Month This October

Oroville Hospital Urges Women to Get Potentially Lifesaving Screenings 
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month This October

OROVILLE, Calif. – Oct. 16, 2026 – In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Oroville Hospital is encouraging eligible area women to get screened for the disease – because early detection of breast cancer can save lives.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The ACS says regular screening with mammograms – beginning at age 40 – is the best way to find breast cancer early, when it may be easier to treat. In fact, according to the ACS, the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed at an early, localized stage is over 99%.

Oroville Hospital offers a comprehensive approach to breast care at The Center for Breast Health, which is designed to provide patients with a personalized care experience. The hospital’s breast health program includes Valley Women’s Imaging, an imaging facility dedicated exclusively to women’s health. Valley Women’s Imaging provides screening and imaging services for breast health patients – everything from digital screening, diagnostic mammograms, and breast ultrasound to stereotactic breast biopsies and ultrasound guided breast biopsies. The facility’s newest digital breast tomosynthesis technology provides 3-D images of breast tissue, which allow physicians to examine individual layers of tissue more closely.
 
“Early detection screening is a powerful tool that can help catch cancer in the early stages while it is still treatable,” said Dr. Elizabeth Johnston, a general surgeon who focuses on treating breast cancer. “At The Center for Breast Health, we encourage women to be familiar with the warning signs of cancer, get regular check-ups, mammograms and screenings, and perform self-exams. Knowing their family history will also help doctors determine if they need to begin screening at an early age.”

She added, “To women facing breast cancer, treatment and care options can be overwhelming. Our inter-disciplinary team of medical specialists and our dedicated nurse navigator are available to support them every step of the way with the specific care they need, in a calming, compassionate environment.”

Quinn Williams, a 37-year-old Oroville resident, was diagnosed with breast cancer approximately one year ago. The diagnosis came by chance while Williams was being treated for hormonal issues she experienced after the birth of her daughter, Winnie, now 4. The treatment required that she first have a mammogram, which revealed suspicious areas in one of her breasts. A follow-up biopsy confirmed two cancerous tumors, leading to a diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer, a rare, aggressive form of the disease that affects about 13 in 100,000 women in the U.S.

“It was such a shock because I had waited two years before going to see a doctor about my hormonal issues and hadn’t been getting regular exams. Breast cancer wasn’t something that was even on my mind,” Williams said. “But the doctors and nurses and all the women on staff at Valley Women’s Imaging were so lovely and so welcoming. Everybody treated me so kindly. They reassured me that the cancer was treatable and made me feel better.”

Williams underwent six months of chemotherapy, combined with immunotherapy, to shrink the tumors, followed by a mastectomy to help reduce the chance that the cancer will return. “Today, I’m in remission and I feel great,” she said. 

In addition to the exceptional care she received at Oroville Hospital, Williams believes that having a mammogram in her mid-30s was critical to her recovery. “If I’d waited any longer before seeing a doctor for my hormonal issues and having a mammogram, my tumors might have grown bigger and become malignant. Early detection really does save lives!”

Valley Women’s Imaging is located at 2809 Olive Hwy., Suite 120, in Oroville. For more information about services offered or to schedule an appointment, contact us at (530) 532-8676. 

About Oroville Hospital
Oroville Hospital is a community hospital dedicated to providing the finest personalized healthcare to the Oroville and the surrounding foothill and valley communities by offering a wide range of integrated services from prevention through treatment to wellness. For more information, please visit www.OrovilleHospital.com. 

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