Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the U.S. Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer. One out of eight women will develop cancer during their life time.
This year in Georgia, it is estimated that close to 6,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and over a 1,000 will die from this disease. “Breast cancer has better prognoses if detected in its earliest stages” said Dawn Krahwinkel, Registered Nurse and BCCP Program Coordinator for Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH). “Yet thousands of women forgo annual mammograms that can detect breast cancer.”
As we enter Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is October, CDPH wants to remind all women to practice good breast health and encourage them to contact their doctors for an appointment.
For those who cannot afford a physician, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) is available at CDPH. The BCCP is designed to increase awareness of breast and cervical cancer and serve low income women who are uninsured or under-insured through screenings. The program provides clinical breast and pelvic exams, pap tests, mammogram referrals, and diagnostic services to eligible women between the ages of 40-64 years of age.
The following are the steps to good breast health:
- Breast self-exam every month starting at age 20.
- Clinical breast exam by health care provider every three years at age 20-39, and every year after 40.
- An annual screening mammogram starting at age 40.
For more information, call 770-514-2302 or visit cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org.