Oct 11

Oct 11 Take The Time

Breast Cancer Awareness And Screening During A Pandemic

COVID-19 has made it challenging for people to stay committed to their well-care health plans. Fear of being exposed to the virus at a hospital or their physician’s office has kept a lot of people home, avoiding routine screenings. But seven months into the pandemic, it’s time to take control again. It’s October, National Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month. for millions of women who may not have had a screening in the past year, It’s time to make that important appointment.

Source: SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2017, 2020

Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women in the nation with an estimated 232,340 new cases diagnosed each year (dchweb.org). Regular breast cancer screenings is the best way to detect breast cancer. When detected early, breast cancer is treatable and has a survival rate of 95%.

While white women and black women have the highest incidence of breast cancer (Komen), black women have a 31% breast cancer mortality rate – the highest of any U.S. racial or ethnic group. Furthermore, black women are more likely than white women to get triple-negative breast cancer, the kind of breast cancer that often is aggressive and recurs after treatment (CDC). This makes early detection using breast cancer imaging is vital.

Where to Get Breast Cancer Screening

The Center for Comprehensive Breast Care at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham is convenient—- offering Saturday appointments. The center offers 3-D and digital mammogram screenings. County residents who are uninsured, underinsured or low-income and aged 40-65, may be eligible for a free mammogram.

The breast specialists through MedStar Health's Breast Health Program at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton treat both benign (non-cancerous) breast diseases and breast cancer. Their comprehensive care approach is designed for women on the road to overcoming breast disease. MedStar’s treatment center is now home to the renowned Halcyon Machine which is among the latest in breast cancer treatment.