--- title: "Doctor's Advice to Prepare for Breast Cancer Awareness Month | Sutter Health" description: "Dr. Anne Peled shares why early screening matters this Breast Cancer Awareness Month and offers tips to help patients prepare for their next mammogram." url: "https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives/be-prepared-and-act-this-breast-cancer-awareness-month" --- 1. [Home](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Perspectives](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives) / 3. Be Prepared And Act This Breast Cancer Awareness Month # Be Prepared and Act This Breast Cancer Awareness Month Dr. Anne Peled shares why early screening matters this Breast Cancer Awareness Month and offers tips to help patients prepare for their next mammogram. October 3, 2023 by Ashley Boarman 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](https://www.cancer.gov/types/common-cancers#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20type%20of,prostate%20cancer%20and%20lung%20cancer.) 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](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-location/facility/cpmc-center-for-womens-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: ## Topics [Breast Cancer](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/search?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Breast+Cancer%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=articles) ## Breast cancer Early detection and comprehensive care are key to your long-term health. If you're facing a breast cancer diagnosis, our specialists can provide advanced treatment, personalized support and a clear path forward. [Learn more about Breast cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/breast-cancer) ## Related articles ### [Not Your Momma’s Mammogram. How AI Helps Modernize Screening.](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/research-innovation/not-your-mommas-mammogram-how-ai-helps-modernize-screening) ### [Check it Out: Shoppers Enhance Breast Cancer Services](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/check-in-out-shoppers-enhance-breast-cancer-services) ### [At the register, small gifts add up for breast cancer patients](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/small-gifts-add-up-for-breast-cancer-patients) ### [‘I’m Still Me’: Innovative Breast Cancer Surgery Helps East Bay Mom Move Forward](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/im-still-me-innovative-breast-cancer-surgery-helps-east-bay-mom-move-forward) [See all from Perspectives](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives) ## Check your Vitals Get the latest in health innovation, community impact and patient care from Sutter Health — delivered straight to your inbox. 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