May is the month to celebrate mothers and what better way to celebrate the women in your life than by encouraging them to get an annual mammogram? Since May is also Mammography Month, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC) urges all women to put themselves first and get a routine mammogram.
“It’s important to take care of yourself even when taking care of others,” Francesca Vogel, Chief Executive Officer of DBCC, said. “Mothers too often focus on taking care of their spouse, their children, their grandchildren, pushing their own needs aside. By doing so, they could actually be endangering their own health. An annual routine mammogram is one of the best tools we have in the fight against breast cancer. It takes only about 30 minutes for the average mammogram. This is 30 minutes that could actually save your life.”
According to the National Institute of Health, annual mammograms identify breast cancer in the early stages, usually Stage I and II when survival is greatest. In Delaware, Healthy Delaware recommendations are for breast screening to begin at 40 and are covered by insurance. Even if there is no known family history of breast cancer in your family, it is recommended that all women speak with their doctors about their personal risk factors for breast cancer and that they are routinely screened for breast cancer by getting an annual mammogram. More information about screening recommendations can be found at https://www.healthydelaware.org/Individuals/Cancer/Breast#intro.
“You don’t want to wait until you have physical symptoms before you get screened,” Vogel said. “At that point, the cancer may have advanced and spread to other parts of the body. This is why we want women to take action in the fight against breast cancer. We want you to do it in honor of the women who have fought, are fighting and will conquer this disease by prioritizing your health and getting your annual mammogram this May.”
Vogel explained that there are options available for those who may not have insurance or have other barriers to obtaining annual mammograms. DBCC’s Women’s Health Screening team is available with assistance and can provide information in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
If you would like to help further the reach of the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition’s life-saving programs and services, please donate through the DBCC donation site with a tax-deductible contribution which can help make a difference in someone’s life. To learn more about the services offered by DBCC as well as information on cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival, visit www.debreastcancer.org.
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