PREVENTING CANCER WITH ROUTINE MAMMOGRAMS
The first time I heard the word CANCER, I was a young girl maybe in late elementary school. My aunt had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember feeling so sad for my cousins who had a sick mama. She didn’t make it, and from that moment on I knew the devastation of this horrible disease. Of course life went on, and her family grew and prospered. That was the beginning of what I would learn about CANCER.
ABOUT THE PREVENT CANCER FOUNDATION
The Prevent Cancer Foundation is the ONLY U.S. based nonprofit organization that is solely dedicated to the prevention of cancer and early detection. How are you about getting regular mammograms? The five year survival rate is nearly 90% when cancer is found in its very earliest stages. That’s an incredible statistic! The numbers are definitely telling us to get in TIMELY for the absolute best way to care for ourselves! And did you know that for cervical cancers specifically, one of the keys to early detection, is scheduling REGULAR cervical cancer screening beginning at the age of 21? I had no idea! And breast screenings should start at the age of 40, or earlier if there is potential risk for you.
REGULAR SCREENINGS ARE A PART OF SELF-CARE
I haven’t always been good at taking the time to get my mammograms. I definitely have room for improvement. We need to look at routine screenings as part of our self-care. These are just as important as exercise and a good diet. I have been guilty at times, of thinking I’m too busy. If you think about it, how long does it actually take to make an appointment and go in for a mammogram. Don’t make excuses!! I actually just went and it took less than 30 minutes.
ALARMING STATISTICS
Just 49% of women over the age of 40 have either never had a breast cancer screening OR have not had a breast cancer screening in six or more years afterwards. And 22% of those women said not having any symptoms was the reason. 53% of women 21 and older, have either never had a cervical cancer/HPV screening or have not had a screening in 6 years afterwards. And 18% of those women said not having any symptoms was the reason. These are truly alarming numbers!
EDUCATION IS KEY
The numbers show that we are sometimes in the dark about preventing cancer with regular mammograms. We don’t know when we should go in, if we should go in, or how often we should go in. Numbers show too, that after being exposed to information regarding the importance of early detection, nearly 7 in 10 women, 21 and older indicate they are MORE LIKELY TO SCHEDULE their next recommended breast or cervical cancer screening! Women are responding to EDUCATION!
HOW WE CAN BE PROACTIVE
Preventing cancer with regular mammograms will give you such peace of mind! We all need to be proactive about our screenings and checks. I like to think of getting mine done during my birthday month. This seems to really help me get them done! You can also remind your girlfriends, sisters, and mothers about theirs! Make it a goal or a challenge! What could be MORE important? There’s no need at all to FEAR your screenings. But there is a lot to FEAR in NOT getting screened routinely!
PLEASE VISIT HERE to learn more about CANCER SCREENING and PREVENTION!
SEE MY REEL HERE ABOUT REGULAR MAMMOGRAM APPOINTMENTS!
Shauna XO