Staff Reports | Community Updates
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Abrazo Health is encouraging women 40 and older to discuss mammogram screening with their physicians and learn about their individual breast cancer risk factors.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States, behind skin cancers, and the American Cancer Society estimates more than 321,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026 and more than 42,000 women will die from the disease, according to a press release.
Regular mammograms can identify changes in breast tissue before symptoms develop and are an important tool for detecting breast cancer early.
“There’s no single screening schedule that’s right for every woman,” OB hospitalist Erica McLaughlin, M.D., of Valley Perinatal Services LLC, said. “Your age, family history, personal medical history and other risk factors can all be part of that conversation. The important thing is to have the conversation.”
National recommendations include beginning discussions about breast cancer screening at age 40. The type and frequency of screening should be determined in consultation with a physician.
Abrazo Health is offering a free online breast health risk assessment with information about preventive care and finding a physician.
The health system also is offering a chance to win a $450 pink tablet for people who sign up to receive a series of women’s health tips covering topics including thyroid health, menopause and breast cancer. Participants can enter by scanning a QR code.
The resources are intended to encourage women who are due for a mammogram to schedule a screening and learn more about their personal breast cancer risks.
