| October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Blue Ridge HealthCare would like to remind women of all ages the importance of clinical breast exams and annual mammograms. Approximately 192,200 women nationwide are diagnosed annually with breast cancer and of that number, an estimated 90 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Burke County.
Finding breast cancer early is the key to successful treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 or older have a mammogram every year. Women between the ages of 20 and 39 should have a clinical breast exam by a health care provider a minimum of every three years.
“If all women age 40 and older take advantage of early detection methods, mammography plus clinical breast exams – breast cancer death rates would drop much further – up to 30%,” says Carolyn Mook, MD Medical Oncologist at Blue Ridge HealthCare. “The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely. Once is not enough.”
The Cancer Care Centers of Blue Ridge HealthCare offers a variety of breast cancer awareness programs for women. Speakers are available to meet with women’s organizations, civic groups and churches. For more information on breast cancer programs contact Jan Hollar, Cancer Care Services Coordinator at 580-6703.
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