October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when the cause of fighting and preventing this all-too-common disease deserves special attention.
Breast cancer screening is critical to finding breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat and before it is likely big enough to feel or cause symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With more than 300,500 new cases expected in the United States in 2023, breast cancer is the nation’s most common cancer.
“While cancer is never completely preventable, we hope to inspire action,” says Dr. Anne Peled, co-director of Sutter Health’s CPMC Center for Women’s Health Care in San Francisco. “Preventive services for breast cancer, like 3-D mammography and imaging, lead to early detection and with it, more treatment options and better outcomes.”
At Sutter Health, starting at age 40, women are encouraged to start routine breast cancer screening. For women who have a family history and other risk factors, screening may be recommended even earlier.
“Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you,” encourages Dr. Peled.
Here’s how to prepare for your upcoming mammogram:
