Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Early Detection

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

One in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

“I think we all have this misconception. If I don’t feel anything, if there’s no family history I’m not at risk. But the reality is we’re women, we’re over 40 and we’re getting older,” said Peggy Thomas with Penrose Hospital.

But there is some hope.

When breast cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent

While many are aware of this, we found out that some women don’t realize the help that’s out there.

“There are women with Medicare who have a 100 percent coverage for screening asking ‘How am I going to pay?’ for their co-pay. So that tells me that we are insurance-naive. It’s not people’s forte,” said Thomas.

Before the health care law, Americans used preventive services like mammograms, at about half the recommended rate.

“Almost every woman can get a screening mammogram. That’s a mammogram with no symptoms, starting at the age of 40, without having a co-pay. So that is wonderful. We’re busy, but we can always be busier. We’re not at the percentage we want to be. About 72 percent of women who are eligible are getting screened. We still have a ways to go,” said Thomas.

We’ll continue to bring you more stories every week for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

http://www.penrosecancercenter.org/PCC/Home/