BALTIMORE — National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. MedChi wants to help make a difference! We want to spread the word about mammograms and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.
Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About one-in-eight women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point in their life. Men can also get breast cancer and over 2,000 men are diagnosed a year. A mammogram— the screening test for breast cancer— can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.
We can use this opportunity to spread the word about important steps women can take to stay healthy. Here are just a few ideas:
- Ask doctors and nurses to speak to women about the importance of getting screened for breast cancer.
- Encourage women age 40 and older to talk with their doctors about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them.
- Talk with women ages 50 to 74 in your community about getting mammograms every two years. They can also choose to get them more often.
“It is important to talk to your doctor about your risk for breast cancer, especially if a close family member of yours had breast or ovarian cancer. Your doctor can help you decide when and how often to get mammograms. Mammograms are covered for women over the age of 40 under the health care reform law, so there is no reason not to get one,” said Dr. Brooke Buckley, New President of MedChi.
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, is a non-profit membership association of Maryland physicians. It is the largest physician organization in Maryland. The mission of MedChi is to serve as Maryland’s foremost advocate and resource for physicians, their patients and the public health of Maryland. For more information, visit www.medchi.org.