BELLEVILLE – October marks National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) and Clara Maass Medical Center (CMMC), an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, hopes to help in spreading knowledge about breast cancer among the members of its surrounding community.
Since NBCAM began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined. This is great news; however, there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all.
It is important for women to practice the elements of good breast health and it is suggested that women obtain regular mammography screening starting at the age of 40, obtain annual clinical breast exams, perform monthly breast self-exams, and obtain a risk assessment from a physician.
“If all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection methods such as mammography and clinical breast exam, breast cancer death rates would drop much further, up to 30 percent,” says James Heimann, M.D., medical director of Radiology at Clara Maass Medical Center. “The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely because once is just not enough.”
The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.
For more information, or to schedule your mammogram, call 1-888-724-7123.
Since NBCAM began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined. This is great news; however, there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all.
It is important for women to practice the elements of good breast health and it is suggested that women obtain regular mammography screening starting at the age of 40, obtain annual clinical breast exams, perform monthly breast self-exams, and obtain a risk assessment from a physician.
“If all women age 40 and older took advantage of early detection methods such as mammography and clinical breast exam, breast cancer death rates would drop much further, up to 30 percent,” says James Heimann, M.D., medical director of Radiology at Clara Maass Medical Center. “The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely because once is just not enough.”
The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.
For more information, or to schedule your mammogram, call 1-888-724-7123.
