Breast Cancer Awareness Month | Get a Mammogram!
by James Plummer, DMgt, MBA, MSM
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During the month, we get to focus on women’s health. The conversation revolves around what problems were we talking about the previous year, what have we done to address those problems, what issues have come up, and what are we thinking about addressing the issues. One would want to ask why we have breast cancer month and not women’s health month. Breast cancer is unarguably the greatest danger to women’s reproductive health. It is the second most common type of cancer in women, the first one being skin cancer. Great progress has been made in dealing with breast cancer, the most effective campaign being the push for frequent screening.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a slow but steady decline in breast cancer deaths due to improved treatment methods and breast screening. Frequent screening is not meant to prevent breast cancer in its totality. It is meant to prevent breast cancer death. Screening cannot prevent cancer from erupting, but it does help in early detection and consequently early treatment. Breast cancer screening is often administered through a mammogram, which is simply an X-ray of the breast. A mammogram is the most effective of all cancer screening methods. Women can, at any given time conduct a physical examination of their breasts, but very the method is less effective, and most women do not remember to examine themselves. In addition, when one visits a physician and undergoes these physical examinations, the changes may not be detected on time.
There are several benefits of getting a mammogram. While a mammogram cannot prevent cancer it ensures that the different types of breast cancer including invasive ductal and invasive lobular are detected on time. Research shows that a mammogram can detect breast cancer three years before one starts to exhibit symptoms such as lumps. The result of detecting cancer early reduces the risk of death and ensures that it can be treated. In addition, there are more treatment options for the patient and give them enough recovery time.
Another benefit of a mammogram is that when the cancer is detected in time, a lumpectomy may be performed instead of a mastectomy. A lumpectomy ensures that only the affected tissue is removed rather than the whole breast. A mammogram is beneficial especially when it’s done yearly since it keeps one updated on their health since the risk of developing breast cancer increases as one grows old. Another importance of detecting cancer early is that it prevents cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. Research shows that the survival rate of breast cancer is 99% when detected on time.
To all women who are celebrating breast cancer awareness month, observe the month by getting a mammogram. Let other women know that getting an annual mammogram cannot invite cancer. It can only help save a life.
James Plummer, DMgt, MBA, MSM
James is an experienced Leader in Healthcare and Business. He is currently Administrator for Axia Women’s Health Group. He is an Adjunct Facilitator at Eastern University’s College of Business and Leadership. He recently graduated with a Doctorate, Management and Strategic Leadership and just started a Masters program in Healthcare Law. James is Treasurer for the PAHCOM Delaware County Branch. James.Plummer@axiawh.com
PAHCOM Member Since 2018