Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Monday, October 19th, 2015

This October, IMC is proud to participate in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.

If you are a woman age 40 – 49, talk with your doctor about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them.
If you are a woman age 50 – 74, be sure to get a mammogram every 2 years. You may also choose to get them more often.

Talk to a 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.

What is a Mammogram?

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast to check for breast cancer. Mammograms can help find breast cancer early. Most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.

Together, you and your doctor can decide what’s best for you.

Mammograms for women over age 40 are covered under the Affordable Care Act. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get mammograms at no cost to you. Talk to your insurance provider.

Like all medical tests, mammograms have pros and cons. These pros and cons change with your age and your risk for breast cancer.

What to Ask Your Doctor?

It helps to have questions for the doctor written down ahead of time. Print this list of questions, and take it to your next appointment. You may want to ask a family member or close friend to go with you to take notes.

Do I have risk factors for breast cancer?
I am under age 50:

Based on my risk factors, what are my chances of getting breast cancer?
Should I start getting regular mammograms? If so, how often?
What are the pros and cons of getting mammograms before age 50?

I am between ages 50 and 74:

Based on my risk factors, what are my chances of getting breast cancer?
How often should I get mammograms?
What are the pros and cons of getting mammograms every 2 years instead of every year?

What will happen when I go to get mammograms?
How long will it take to get the results of my mammograms?
If I don’t hear back about the results of my mammograms, does that mean everything is okay?

Can Men Get Breast Cancer?

Yes. A breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Breast cancer occurs mainly in women, but men can get it, too. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer.