Montana

Inmates at Montana Women's Prison receive breast cancer screenings from mobile clinic

Published

1 year ago

August 12, 2024

Inmates at Montana Women's Prison receive breast cancer screenings from mobile clinic

BILLINGS — Inmates at the Montana Women’s Prison are receiving regular breast exams as a way to help detect cancer early.

Intermountain Health’s 3-D mammography program brings its mobile bus to the prison quarterly and services roughly 30 women per visit. Women over the age of 40 are scheduled as well as those that require follow-up appointments.

“We’re so lucky with the science and the technology that we have today. Early detection is saving lives,” said Carly May, the medical services manager at the prison.

This bus helps highlight the importance of access to healthcare while still incarcerated. For many of these inmates, an early diagnosis can be the difference between life and death.

Isabel Spartz/MTN News

Intermountain Health has brought the 3D mammography bus to the Montana Women’s Prison since 2016.

“We have to sometimes encourage some of our population to do it, and oftentimes those are the women that we find out they do need further care or treatment,” said May. “We are happy to report that we have cancer survivors within the system that was detected from the bus.”

The bus has been coming to the prison since 2016 and has seen many success stories.

One inmate, Rebecca Gun Hammer, has had multiple exams from the clinic and felt that it would encourage her to keep up healthy habits after being released.

“Being in prison, I like that they offer the services to us so that we can get it done something we would have neglected otherwise,“ said Gun Hammer. “When I walk out of here, I will be a healthier person.”

Another inmate, Shannon LaMere, recently experienced a situation where doctors found something concerning during an exam.

“This year I had to go for one, and they found some abnormalities. In June, I was told that I possibly had breast cancer,” said LaMere. “I went through this whole month like being sad, mad, every emotion you could think of that I was going through.”

LaMere was scared of what that would mean for her. She had surgery two weeks ago to remove precancerous cells from her breast, and the experience has now changed her perspective on life.

“It was an eye-opener to see how much life would take for granted. It just made me want to become a better person to do better for not only myself, but my children and my grandchildren,” said LaMere.

LAMERE_2.28.1.jpg — Shannon LaMere recently had surgery to remove precancerous cells that were found in her breast during one of the exams. She is grateful that they caught it early and that it did not develop into something worse for her.

The program is also showing the importance of having access to healthcare not only in prison, but once released. For many women, this is the first time they are completing routine check-ups for their health.

“I think if you’re healthy physically and mentally once you’re released from here, you’re armed with that knowledge, and that’s one less hurdle that you have to try to deal with when you leave here,” said May.

That information will also help them advocate for themselves in a healthcare setting. Before receiving their first exam, many women in the prison were not aware of how to ask questions surrounding their health or conditions, and the quick, 10-minute exam is helping them take steps forward.

“It’s embarrassing for them, for some people, to ask a question that they’re not sure how to ask. They just don’t have the knowledge, so to have that comfortable setting where you can openly talk about your health care needs or discover what those needs may be, that’s also empowering,” said May.

LaMere’s success story is another reason why the prison is urging the importance of getting screened early, and to take the help that is being given.

“No matter how it’s offered, take it because your health is the most important thing to you and that’s the only way you’re going to stay alive,” said Gun Hammer.

These screenings serve as a reminder for these women to continue seeking healthcare after being released and take precautions in their care.

“I’m grateful that I had to go through this opportunity so that because if I would have been out, I wouldn’t have known. Being incarcerated, it saved me from myself,” said LaMere.

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Montana

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

Published

11 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Montana State’s Taylee Chirrick earns second straight Big Sky Conference weekly honor

BOZEMAN — For the second consecutive week, Montana State sophomore guard Taylee Chirrick has been named Big Sky Conference player of the week, the league office announced Tuesday.

The 5-foot-11 product of Roberts scored the game-winning basket with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift the Bobcats to a 71-70 upset of Big 12 member Colorado on Sunday afternoon at the CU Events Center. Chirrick finished the contest with 21 points, which included a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line.

Chirrick once again stuffed the stat sheet, pulling down a team-best six rebounds, while adding four steals, three assists and a pair of 3-pointers in the victory.

Chirrick is currently ranked third in the nation averaging 4.5 steals per game, and her 27 total steals rank 14th overall. Her 19.8 points per game rank second in the Big Sky and 28th in the nation.

Montana State opens the Big Sky Conference/Summit League Challenge on Wednesday at North Dakota State in Fargo. Tip is slated for 6 p.m. (MT) in the Scheels Center. The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network.

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Montana

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Published

23 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Photos: Montana State clips Illinois State to win national championship

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Justin Hosa / MTN Sports

Montana State topped Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim their first National Championship since 1984.TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports

Montana State plays Illinois State in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.Kyle Hansen / MTN Sports

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Montana

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Montana State squares off with Illinois State Monday night in the FCS national championship game at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The Bobcats are making their third trip to the title game in the past five seasons under coach Brent Vigen. The program is seeking its first championship since 1984.

MTN Sports has been on the ground in Nashville for the past five days covering the lead-up to the game, including the pregame show “Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest” hosted by Scott Breen and Kyle Hansen.

In it the MTN staff provides game previews, features, facts and figures and sights and sounds from the past several days in Music City in the run-up to the game. To watch, see the video reel below.

Watch: Bobcat Built – Montana State’s Championship Quest

Bobcat Built: Montana State’s Championship Quest

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Inmates at Montana Women's Prison receive breast cancer screenings from mobile clinic

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Inmates at Montana Women's Prison receive breast cancer screenings from mobile clinic

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