October is here, and in addition to all the wonderful things that fall brings, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985 to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer. In the almost 30 years since, it has served its purpose well. I believe people are very aware of the importance of early detection, but time and time again I hear women making excuses. They are afraid it will hurt, they have never had a mammogram and are scared of the procedure. These excuses seems a bit light to me – compared to many other invasive medical procedures women deal with, a mammogram is a simple, quick screening. Heck, I think I’d rather have a mammogram than go to the dentist. An even more common excuse is “I don’t have time.” If you don’t have time for the screening, I’m a bit concerned how cancer might cramp your schedule. This may seem a bit harsh, but the reality of breast cancer is real. The statistics show that one in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. With those kind of stats, why would anyone put off a breast cancer screening off? I think what really is behind all this procrastination is the fear, the fear of a cancer diagnosis. Not knowing doesn’t make it go away. If scheduling your mammogram is on your to-do list, stop reading this and go make your appointment.
American Cancer Society Guidelines: Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.
A clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam, about every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam is an option for women starting in their 20s.
MRI screening is recommended for women with approximately a 20 percent or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, including women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer and women who were treated for Hodgkin disease.
A mammogram takes moments . . . breast cancer takes lives. Sign up today for a mammogram reminder at cancer.org.
