News

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Did you know that one in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime and nearly 300,000 women each year are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most common cancer among women in the United States, after skin cancer? Although much less common, breast cancer can also occur in men.

To help catch breast cancer even earlier, the US Preventive Services Task Force recently changed its recommendation and is now encouraging women aged 40 to 74 who are at average risk of breast cancer get a mammogram at least every two years.

As breast cancer can impact women of any age it is important to be aware of the warning signs. Be sure to seek out medical attention if you notice any of the following:

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
• Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
• Pain in any area of the breast.

There is some good news about breast cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that death rates from breast cancer in the United States dropped 40% between 1989 and 2017, likely from a combination of early detection from screening initiatives and better treatments.

Please talk to your provider about when you should get a mammogram. If you are due for your mammogram, you can schedule it at Summit Pacific by calling (360) 346-2243 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.