Did you know that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Wisconsin? According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast Cancer Awareness Month has increased early detection efforts and has discovered better treatments to save lives. However, the fight is long from over. This October, Family Health La Clinica (FHLC) honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month to provide information on how you can detect breast cancer early.
Since the exact causes of breast cancer are unknown, early detection is key to preventing cancer deaths. When found early, there is a much higher survival rate. The best test to find breast cancer is a mammogram. A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast used to detect early signs of breast cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women get screened every two years starting at age 50. Women who have a family history of breast cancer or are otherwise at higher risk should talk to their doctor about the best mammogram schedule for them.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great reminder to get screened. Breast cancer does not always have physical symptoms, such as lumps or irregularities in the breast, so scheduling a mammogram now could save your life,” says Paige Dorsey, Nurse Practitioner at Family Health La Clinica. FHLC provides mammograms onsite through the Marshfield Mobile Mammogram Program and by referral to other health systems.
The Marshfield Mobile Mammogram Program will be onsite at Family Health La Clinica in Wautoma on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Appointments are available from 10 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., and you can call 920-787-5514 extension 204 to schedule. If you are due for a mammogram but prefer a different date, talk with your primary care provider about your options. More mammogram program dates will be scheduled throughout 2021.
