Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Celebrating Survival & Support

Know the Facts about Breast Cancer

You more than likely have known someone in your life who has been affected by breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common, and deadly, cancer in the U.S. among women, affecting about 12% of women in their lifetime. 276,480 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2020, and 42,170 of those cases are expended to be fatal. This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’d like to share with you some of the ways you can prevent, detect, and win the fight against breast cancer.

The Risk Factor

Like many cancers, lifestyle habits can affect your chances of developing breast cancer. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and staying away from bad habits like smoking and excessive drinking can all help decrease your chances of developing the cancer and increase your chances of survival if fighting it. However, certain DNA inheritances can drastically increase your chances of having breast cancer. In fact, your risk nearly doubles if a first-degree member of your family had breast cancer (mother, sister, daughter), as it is highly hereditary.

Early Detection

As stated above, if there is a history of breast cancer in the family, it can be likely that you carry the gene that can lead to the mutation. That is why it is especially important for those individuals to have regular mammograms and perform regular self-examinations. Unfortunately, in most cases there are no symptoms that come along with breast cancer. This is why regular screening is extremely important. You should consult with your doctor about when and how often you should be getting mammograms. Most women will start after the age of 40-45 and get them every 1-2 years from then on. This may be more often for women who are more at risk.

To learn how to conduct a self-examination, please visit https://cwchowardcounty.com/breast-care

For more information on our mammogram services, please visit https://cwchowardcounty.com/mammogram

Treatment and Advancements

A breast cancer diagnosis can be scary and confusing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you are clear one what happens next. Some of these questions include:

· What type of breast cancer do I have?

· Where is it exactly?

· What stage am I in?

· What are all of my treatment options?

· What other tests will I need?

· How will my insurance cover this?

It is important to have a good relationship with your doctor, they will make the experience as comforting as possible, so don’t be afraid to make requests to get all the information you need. The good news is there has been a slow increase in survival rates due to earlier detection and treatment advancements. The best thing you can do for yourself is stay positive, surround yourself with a strong support system, and keep yourself informed by maintaining a good relationship with your doctor. There are so many women that have been through what you are going through who have had amazing success stories. So, reach out to support groups, make new friends, and believe that you will be one of those survivors one day too.