DETROIT - Henry Ford Health System is harnessing the power of the popular social networking site Facebook to remind women to get mammograms during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. By developing a new Facebook application called Pinky Swear, Henry Ford is spreading the word among Facebook users about the importance of regular mammograms for the early detection of breast cancer. Mammograms are recommended for women after age 40 and if there’s a family history of breast cancer. The application allows Facebook users to send Pinky Swear mammography reminders to friends, along with information about how to set up an appointment.

Facebook users also can sign up to become a “fan” of the Pinky Swear Facebook page to receive news and information about breast cancer from Henry Ford. In metro Detroit, an estimated 154,000 women, ages 40 to 64, use Facebook. For Facebook users who are not in Michigan, Henry Ford hopes Pinky Swear will encourage women to start a dialogue with friends and family, as well as their health care providers, about the importance of breast cancer screening. Facebook users can access the Henry Ford Pinky Swear application at  

Facebook users can access the Henry Ford Pinky Swear application at http://apps.facebook.com/pinky_swear.

 About Henry Ford Mammography:  Henry Ford Health System offers 17 mammography sites throughout southeast Michigan, the majority of which offer online appointment scheduling.

To schedule an appointment, visit www.henryford.com  for locations and real-time mammography scheduling, or call 1-800-HenryFord.  There is also a link to the right of this post.

A physician’s prescription is not needed for real-time online mammography appointment scheduling for women ages 40 and older who require a routine screening mammogram. Patients who schedule a mammography at a Henry Ford location on Oct. 16, National Mammography Day, will receive a pink carnation at their appointment.

written by Deborah McBain, CNM MSN