October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Urgent Care in Danbury is committed to supporting and encouraging early detection screenings for breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the number one most common cancer in women, across every demographic, followed by lung cancer . About 1 in 8 women born today will get breast cancer at some point. It is also the second most deadly cancer for women.
There is good news, however: Detection tools and protocols are improving each year, and many women survive breast cancer if found and treated in its early stages.
The American Cancer Society recommends these screening guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer
- Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health
- Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over
- Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
Some women – because of their family history, a genetic tendency, or certain other factors – should be screened with MRI in addition to mammograms. (The number of women who fall into this category is not big: fewer than 2% of all the women in the US.) Others will need an accompanying ultrasound if their breasts are cystic or dense.
If there is family history, or additional reasons for concern, we encourage you to discuss your options and additional tests with your doctor.
