Media Release
| Contact: Kelly Nettnin 252.475.5036 kellyn@darenc.com | For Immediate Release: 10/1/2012 |
Early Detection Can Make a Difference
More than 1,350 women will die of breast cancer in North Carolina and another 8,507 will be diagnosed this year. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time set aside to increase awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer, celebrate the lives of the many women who survived, and remember those lost. The Dare County Department of Public Health wishes to utilize this time to remind residents that early detection and prompt treatment of breast cancer can save lives.
Breast cancer remains the most frequently occurring cancer in women and is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths of women in North Carolina, but early diagnosis can make a difference. Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.
Women should take charge of their health by going for regular breast screenings. Breast screenings check the breasts for cancer before noticeable signs or symptoms are present. Talk to your healthcare provider about which screening is the recommended one for you. Below are the main tests used to screen for breast cancer:
- Breast self-exam is when you check your own breasts for lumps, swelling, changes in size or shape of the breast, and any other changes in the breast or underarm.
- Clinical breast exam is a breast exam by a doctor or nurse, who uses his or her hands to carefully feel for lumps or other changes in the entire breast area.
- Mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause other symptoms.
In efforts to assure access to healthcare, free or low cost breast cancer screening and follow-up services are provided to financially eligible women through the Dare County Department of Public Health.
For more information on breast health, or to schedule your screening, please contact the Dare County Department of Public Health at 252.475.5003.
