October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In the United States, 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Each year in the United States, about 270,000 women get breast cancer and 42,000 women die from the disease.
Breast Cancer in Virginia
- Breast cancer in women is the top cancer in Virginia.
- The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 8,000 new breast cancer diagnoses in Virginia this year.
- It’s also expected that over 1,100 people will die of breast cancer this year in Virginia.
Breast Cancer Screening
- Breast cancer screening is checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease.
- Screening is the best way to detect breast cancer early.
- Finding breast cancer early:
- Improves treatment options
- Greatly increases survival
- From 1975-2020 in the United States, 250,000 breast cancer deaths were prevented because of mammography screening.
Getting Screened
- Women at average risk for breast cancer should start screening at age 40.
- Women who are at increased risk may need to start screening earlier and have them done more frequently.
- Check with your healthcare provider if screening is recommended for you and how often you should be screened.
Cost of Screening
- VDH’s Every Woman’s Life (EWL) program helps uninsured, low-income women gain access to free breast cancer screening services.
- Learn more to see if you qualify and to find an EWL provider near you.
- If you don’t qualify, call 1-866-EWL-4YOU or 1-866-395-4968, and they will share with you a list of resources in your community.
- Women with private insurance should check to see if breast cancer screenings are covered.
For More Information