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Getting Mammograms Key To Early Breast Cancer Detection

drexelmedicine.org

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The American Cancer Society's estimates about 266,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. About 64,000 new cases of the earliest form of breast cancer will be diagnosed. About 41,000 women will die from breast cancer this year.

Nicole Peplinski is Wisconsin Well Woman program coordinator for northern Wisconsin.

She says women over age 40 should get mammograms..

"....It's important for women to have a baseline with getting screened for a mammogram and any woman over age 40 should meet with their provider and discuss when to begin breast cancer screening and when they should have a mammogram...."

Peplinski says mammograms are the best tool available to discover cancers early when they are the easiest to treat. She says an annual checkup is a good place to start...

"...Starting out with an annual Well Woman visit gives them an idea where their health is at. Keeping an eye on their weight. Obesity may lead to cancer and other types of risks so having a healthy diet, exercising daily and health behaviors like not smoking and not drinking..."

She says the Wisconsin Well Woman program can help women who need additional screening....

"...So the Wisconsin Well Women can come in and help women that are uninsured or underinsured if they meet program guidelines through age and income. They receive those services without a cost to them..."

Peplinkski says women needing a mammogram also might qualify for help. For more information contact your local county health department or Peplinski at the Oneida County Health Department Well Woman Program.

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