MAYVILLE – October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Chautauqua County Director of Health and Human Services Christine Schuyler is urging all women to talk to their doctor about breast cancer screening and their personal risk for the disease.
Breast cancer is most commonly found in women 50 years old or older. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends a mammogram every two years for women between 50 and 74 years of age.
Women ages 40–49 years old are encouraged to talk to their health care providers about when and how often they should have screening mammograms. Any woman, who is at high risk for breast cancer, as determined by a doctor, may need to begin screening earlier.
Any woman, or man, who has symptoms or changes in their breasts, should schedule an appointment with their doctor immediately. While very rare, it is possible for men to get breast cancer.
It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer during her life. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in New York State. Each year in New York, nearly 15,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 2,700 women die from the disease.
Breast cancer screening is covered by the health plans participating in the New York State of Health. For more information, call the local Cancer Services Program at 800-506-9185.
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