Health Department News
Early Detection of Breast Cancer Saves Lives
In an average year, 58 western Upper Peninsula women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 13 women will die of the disease. Because early detection of breast cancer saves lives, Western U.P. District Health Department promotes annual breast exams and connects low-to-moderate income women to free cancer screening and treatments.
Every October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Health Department joins organizations throughout Michigan to encourage every woman age 40 and older to get a yearly mammogram and clinical breast exam. Early detection is a key to survival of breast cancer, and an important reason why death rates from this disease have declined in recent years.
Mammography screening is the single most effective method of early detection. Therefore, an annual mammogram is recommended for all women over 40. A clinical examination by a health care professional should be done yearly. Women can take charge of their breast health by performing a breast self-exam
In the United States, more than 210,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year. Fortunately, significant progress in mammography technology is helping physicians diagnose the disease earlier. And the sooner breast cancer is detected, the less likely a woman will need highly invasive and uncomfortable treatments, and the more likely she will survive the disease. As a result, breast cancer survivors make up the largest group of cancer survivors.
Special populations at risk for breast cancer include minority and older women. African-American women have a higher breast cancer death rate than women of any other racial or ethnic population, but breast cancer affects women from all ethnicities. Family history is perhaps the best predictor of breast cancer, but the disease can strike any woman at any age. Many women over the age of 60 believe that screening for breast cancer is not necessary. On the contrary, women over 60 are more at risk, not less, for breast cancer.
In an effort to encourage women to have their annual mammography screening, the third Friday in October has been designated as National Mammography Day. On this day, or throughout the month, women are encouraged to make a mammography appointment.
Western U.P. District Health Department offers a no-cost breast and cervical cancer screening and follow-up program called BCCCP (Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program) to ensure that cost is not a barrier to women accessing annual screening, including mammography, and follow-up diagnostic or treatment services.
To qualify for BCCCP, a woman must be age 40-64, a Michigan resident, income eligible and uninsured or underinsured. BCCCP services in the western U.P. are provided by more than 50 health care providers, including all local hospitals.
For more information or to enroll in the program, call your local health department: Houghton/Keweenaw counties at 482-7382, Gogebic County at 667-0200, Baraga County at 524-6142, Ontonagon County at 884-4485, Keweenaw Bay tribal health services at 353-4580 and Lac Vieux Desert at 358-4588.